Chapter 77
Chapter 77
When Youngho arrived in front of the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance’s Private Training Ground with two women beside him, the Guards flinched.
Both were figures the Guards knew well. One was Jang Dan, who held the position of Unit Leader within the Unorthodox Alliance, and the other was Fifth Young Master Youngho, around whom various rumors had recently begun to circulate.
And the remaining one was…….
‘Is that really alright?’
‘A woman… right?’
Her face was so severely damaged that it was impossible to tell whether she was a woman or a man. They merely assumed she was a woman based on the clothes she was wearing.
Seeing the one presumed to be a woman, stained with bruises and all manner of wounds, an involuntary sense of pity rose within them.
“What are you doing? Not working?”
However, the moment Youngho glared at them, the pity that had filled the Guards’ eyes vanished instantly.
They simply hurried to finish searching the three of them in order to survive.
“You may enter.”
“Aren’t you taking my sword?”
When Youngho lightly tapped the Sword Hilt with his finger, the Guards swallowed nervously as they looked at him with tense eyes.
“The Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance instructed us not to touch Fifth Young Master’s weapon.”
“Really? If Master said so, then fine. I’ll go in.”
After lightly patting the Guards’ shoulders as a gesture of thanks for their hard work, Youngho entered the Training Ground.
Jang Dan followed behind him.
Seeing the Training Ground neatly maintained, Youngho spoke in slight surprise.
“What’s the occasion? The Training Ground looks perfectly intact.”
Cheonung, who had been sitting in the center of the Training Ground, responded to the voice and in the blink of an eye arrived before Youngho’s eyes.
“…….”
Cheonung stared at Youngho for a moment before letting out a low chuckle.
“Remarkable. I cannot see at all what realm you have reached. Just where did you learn such a trick?”
“I merely ended up like this while trying to survive.”
“Hmm…… I suppose.”
Cheonung glanced at Maeryeong, whose face was badly swollen and who was missing one arm.
“It seems you won’t be needing one leg either.”
“I think so as well, but it will be cut off later anyway.”
Hearing the conversation between Youngho and Cheonung, Maeryeong trembled involuntarily.
‘Are they planning to torture me as well?’
Given Cheonung’s personality, he would likely torture her to confirm how much information she knew.
And the two were speaking as though they would not hesitate to mutilate her body during the torture.
At the chillingly emotionless tone of the two men, Maeryeong felt fear seize her heart.
Seeing Maeryeong now so terrified that she could barely remain standing, Cheonung let out a faint snort.
“You two may leave now. Lock that wench Maeryeong in the Underground Prison.”
“Yes!”
After replying vigorously, Jang Dan led Maeryeong out of the Training Ground.
Watching Jang Dan leave, Cheonung erected a Qi Barrier and spoke.
“I would like to see just how much stronger you’ve become, but…….”
He clicked his tongue as though sincerely disappointed.
“You’ve suffered some Internal Injury. Well, Ho Jagae is not someone who would fall easily.”
“I had many bones broken as well. They have all healed now.”
Cheonung smiled warmly enough to melt someone at a glance.
“What happened to the scale armor made from the silk of the Heavenly Silkworm?”
“I no longer needed it, so I gave it to someone else.”
“You’ll soon be meeting experts who use Hardened Force. Mere Heavenly Silkworm scales cannot block Hardened Force.”
“That sounds like you intend to work me to the bone.”
“Correct. Then to whom did you give the scale armor?”
“Everyone in my group wanted it. We decided to settle it with a Sparring Match later.”
“That is just like you.”
Youngho grinned.
“I am thinking of it as a small Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.”
“That seems far too small.”
“Then let’s call it a small festival. Ah, by the way, Master.”
Suddenly, Youngho handed over a water flask, and Cheonung asked with a puzzled expression,
“What is this?”
“It is Clear Sky Stone Milk.”
“……!”
The words Clear Sky Stone Milk held enough power to astonish even Cheonung.
“You mean there is Clear Sky Stone Milk inside this?”
“Yes. There were three drops. Horyeung and I each consumed one, and I saved the remaining drop.”
Stunned, Cheonung stared at Youngho in disbelief before speaking.
“So that is how you ascended to the Transformation Realm.”
“Yes. The spirit medicine helped greatly.”
“You were peculiar from the beginning, so I do not think it was merely the spirit medicine’s help.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your body has not yet caught up to your enlightenment.”
“You noticed?”
“At my level, I can tell.”
“As expected, I can never outmatch you, Master.”
“So you intend to give this exceedingly precious Clear Sky Stone Milk to me?”
“Yes.”
Cheonung looked into Youngho’s eyes for a moment.
They were incomparably clear, yet upon closer inspection, nothing but pitch-black abyss existed within.
Those eyes were not lying. Seeing Youngho’s unwavering gaze, Cheonung let out a faint chuckle and handed the water flask back.
“Do not give this to me. Use it on someone else. I can no longer grow stronger from such spirit medicine.”
“I had a feeling that would be the case.”
At Youngho’s words, Cheonung frowned.
“You already knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
“It is simply the heart of a disciple thinking of his Master.”
“What would you have done if I had not refused?”
“You are not someone who would accept it.”
It was the same this time. There was not a trace of falsehood in Youngho’s eyes.
At Youngho’s response, Cheonung let out a faint chuckle.
“You toy with your Master quite boldly.”
“I merely trust my Master.”
Shaking his head as though he found him impossible to deal with, Cheonung spoke again.
“Your Internal Injury is more severe than I thought. Are you truly alright?”
“Can you tell how badly I am injured?”
“I only realized it now. You hid it so tightly that I barely managed to find it, you brat.”
“So my efforts were not in vain after all.”
After examining Youngho closely from head to toe for a moment, Cheonung nodded.
“Still, you have grown quite strong. Hm…… You are not yet comparable to the Murim Alliance Leader, but still…….”
“I refuse.”
“I have not even finished speaking yet.”
Cheonung looked at Youngho with a displeased expression, and Youngho snorted.
“I do not wish to have my youth taken from me by the position of Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“……Ruthless brat.”
“If you have no other business, may this disciple take his leave?”
“How cold. Would it harm you to at least tell me a little about what happened during that time?”
“I can do at least that.”
“Very well, then speak.”
Though Youngho briefly found Cheonung’s rare excitement strange, the two soon sat in the pavilion and exchanged stories.
Each time he listened to Youngho, Cheonung would sometimes exclaim in admiration and other times let out a sigh.
When he heard that Taemyeong had briefly risen to the Transformation Realm while facing the Water Bandits on the Yangtze River, Cheonung showed not the slightest interest.
However, when Youngho said he had blocked Taemyeong’s Thrown Spear, Cheonung went beyond interest and became visibly excited. A mere Transcendent Peak Master had blocked a strike from the Transformation Realm.
After hearing what had happened at the Gold-Blood Hall, Cheonung smiled coldly and said he would have to discipline Nam A-pyeong.
When Youngho spoke of killing the Poison Demon and Cheongsal, Cheonung’s eyes shone so brightly that it was uncomfortable just to look at them.
And when Youngho said he had forged the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword, Cheonung started in shock and looked at Youngho’s sword. Seeing that it was an even greater Divine Weapon than he had expected, he was astonished once more.
Youngho was surprised that Cheonung could display such varied expressions, and finding his reactions amusing, he continued the story.
He told him everything he had experienced during his journey through the Martial World, including bringing back the infant White Tiger and destroying the Black Dragon Branch.
Cheonung showed particular interest in matters concerning the Demonic Cult. He was also subtly curious about the growth of those around Youngho.
Like a seasoned storyteller, Youngho structured the battles with a clear beginning, development, climax, and conclusion.
He spoke of the fierce Shockwave of Qi that had erupted when he first exchanged blows with Ho Jagae. When he mentioned that Ho Jagae had lifted the ground itself, Cheonung burst into loud laughter.
“That fool truly has not changed at all.”
“Have you fought him as well, Master?”
“Of course. I was hot-blooded in those days too. I believe he once sliced off a small mountain peak and hurled it at me.”
“That is incredible.”
“He was born with monstrous strength.”
Youngho resumed the story he had briefly paused. When Cheonung heard that Ho Jagae had used most of his Innate True Qi in a final strike to charge at Youngho, even his palms grew damp with sweat.
It was possible only because he was hearing the situation from Youngho’s perspective rather than witnessing it himself.
After hearing the entire tale, Cheonung looked at Youngho with interest.
“Your tongue is as skilled as your sword. Truly, a remarkable fellow is remarkable indeed.”
“I expected to fight, but I never imagined I would fight the Demonic Cult. I was quite flustered.”
“As long as you came back alive with all your limbs attached, that is enough.”
“That is true.”
It was quite literally so. Even now, Cheonung vividly remembered the time Youngho had sent Ho Jagae’s head as a ‘gift.’
Compared to the shock of that moment, this was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
“Very well. It seems I have kept you too long. You may go now.”
“Understood.”
As Youngho rose from the pavilion and headed toward the exit of the Training Ground, Cheonung spoke to his back.
“Ah, and it seems the First Young Master will soon finish his Closed-Door Training.”
Youngho paused briefly and fell into thought.
‘Is it about time for him to come out?’
Though he was not entirely certain, it seemed that around this time the Servants had grown tense upon hearing that the First Young Master had emerged from Closed-Door Training.
‘And he vented his frustration on me.’
Now, it was merely an unpleasant memory caused by the Personal Attendants, yet for some reason, it felt ominous.
As Youngho fell into brief contemplation, Cheonung lightly clapped his hands.
Clap!
Startled by the sound, Youngho widened his eyes in disbelief and looked at Cheonung.
“Master?”
Cheonung was looking at Youngho with concern. Seeing this rare sight of Cheonung genuinely worried about his disciple’s well-being, Youngho was taken aback.
“……Be careful.”
As if he had finished all he had to say, Cheonung abruptly turned his body away.
Puzzled by Cheonung’s brief yet intense action, Youngho left the Training Ground.
Still unable to shake his confusion, Youngho tilted his head slightly as he returned to his residence.
“……What was that?”
He truly did not know. But soon brushing aside the stray thoughts, Youngho quickened his steps with light excitement.
Arriving at his residence located in a secluded corner of the Unorthodox Alliance, Youngho opened the door and called out,
“I’m back, everyone!”
Stepping inside proudly, he smiled brightly.
“Sopyung! I’m back!”
As he took one step, then another forward with a bright smile, his expression suddenly twisted severely.
Though he failed to conceal the brief stiffening of his face, Youngho once again broke into a beaming smile and said,
“Are you a guest?”
“For now.”
Youngho stared intently at the man before him.
“Why is my second Senior Brother here?”
At that, Hanryeong, Cheonung’s second disciple, smiled.