Chapter 131
Chapter 131
“Indeed, it was an extraordinary place.”
“Meow.”
Seonpung answered Youngho’s mutter.
It was a mountain from which a mysterious aura flowed—so profound that even the word extraordinary could not fully encompass it.
It resembled the Immortal Energy said to flow from the body of an Immortal, yet it felt slightly different.
The place where Youngho currently stood was the entrance to Mount Kunlun, located very close to Cheonsan, the stronghold of the Demonic Cult.
Why had the Mad Black Sword Ghost come to Mount Kunlun?
If one were an ordinary person, they might have said that Youngho had come to annihilate the Kunlun Sect, or at the very least to inflict damage upon them equivalent to such destruction.
But that was not the reason Youngho had come. The annihilation of the Kunlun Sect?
For the current Youngho, who had surpassed even the martial might he possessed before his Regression, destroying a mere sect like Kunlun would have been possible with only a single day.
He had not come to Mount Kunlun to deal with something as insignificant as the Kunlun Sect.
That was why he had shown as little hostility as possible…
“Th-that’s the Mad Black Sword Ghost!”
“Inform the Sect Leader! I shall stall for time!”
Watching the disciples of the Kunlun Sect, who had already descended into complete chaos, Youngho let out a hollow chuckle.
‘Their response was damned fast.’
Just as lacking in awareness, however.
Kunlun was currently facing a crisis unlike any in its history.
Taehuh, the Sect Leader of Kunlun, was using all the composure he had cultivated over his lifetime for this very moment.
Unlike the elders beside him, Taehuh perfectly masked his tension and spoke calmly.
“Welcome to the Kunlun Sect.”
Ah, he had bitten his tongue.
He continued speaking as best he could, but the man before him was someone who might commit an unthinkable act over even such a minor mistake.
Youngho let out a deep sigh as he looked at Taehuh’s expression.
“There is no need to send word to the Murim Alliance. My Master has already gone there.”
“…!”
“There is no need to be so alarmed. I do not intend to start an Orthodox–Demonic War. Rather, we plan to form an alliance through a peace treaty in order to oppose the Demonic Cult.”
“Th-then why has the Mad Black Sword Ghost come here…?”
“I believed it only proper to greet the master of this mountain. You may say that, as a Taoist sect, there is no owner of the mountain—but within the Unorthodox Faction, such courtesies are rather important.”
“Ah….”
Seeing that Taehuh did not appear entirely convinced, Youngho let out another sigh.
“You may have heard that the Heavenly Demon called me the Martial God or the Sword God recently. There is no need for concern.”
“Th-that may be, but….”
“I merely wish to train for a time in Mount Kunlun.”
At that, Taehuh’s complexion began to darken.
“Of course, I do not intend to stay within the Kunlun Sect. I will provide for myself in the mountains, so I hope there will be no misunderstandings.”
Taehuh’s mind raced. Why Youngho had come all the way here to train was irrelevant.
As the Sect Leader of Kunlun, what he needed to consider now was how to avoid provoking Youngho and minimize any damage.
Just as Taehuh was about to speak, a small commotion arose outside.
“Children, it is fine. I do not know who this Mad Black Sword Ghost you speak of is, but at the very least, he is not a bad man.”
“Grand Elder, the Sect Leader is currently receiving a guest.”
“And I am that Sect Leader’s Master. Do not worry.”
At the voice from outside, Taehuh felt his mind go blank.
The situation was already dire. Why had this happened now of all times?
The door opened, and a man entered the room.
“Oh…! As expected, my intuition was correct!”
The man looked Youngho up and down as if examining him, and Youngho returned his gaze directly.
Just as the man was about to speak, Youngho spoke first.
“Are you a Half-Immortal?”
“…!”
At Youngho’s single remark, not only Taehuh but also the elders seated nearby began whispering among themselves.
—How did he know the concept of a Half-Immortal?
—No, more importantly, how did he know that he was a Half-Immortal?
Of course, they were whispering through Voice Transmission.
The man, too, widened his eyes in surprise.
“You know quite a lot.”
“As you can see, I have experienced many things.”
“And what makes you think that is what I am?”
“What else could it be but Immortal Energy? I had intended to ask the Sect Leader a few questions, but it seems it would be better to ask the Grand Elder instead.”
At Youngho’s words, which subtly created a mysterious atmosphere, the man let out a faint chuckle.
“I shall introduce myself first. My name is Heo Do, the Grand Elder of Kunlun.”
“My name is Youngho. May I ask if True Person Heo Do once bore the title Sword Emperor in his youth?”
“For one so young, you know much. I did not expect you to recognize me.”
“You were none other than the close friend who supported the Sword Immortal.”
“You even know of the Sword Immortal… Well, he was more famous than I was, so perhaps it is not so strange?”
Sensing that Heo Do’s muttering might continue at length, Youngho immediately spoke again.
“I never expected that I would see two Half-Immortals in my lifetime.”
“Hmm? You have seen another besides me?”
An Immortal could only become such by comprehending the principles of nature.
Put differently, even a Common Person who had not studied martial arts could become an Immortal if they grasped the natural order.
An Immortal could be born anywhere, at any time—not only within the famed Taoist sects of the Nine Sects and One Gang.
Some appeared suddenly; others were born after long years of cultivation.
Thus, out of curiosity, Heo Do asked Youngho who the other Half-Immortal he had seen was.
Youngho smiled faintly at Heo Do, who could not suppress his deep curiosity.
“I once had the opportunity to meet the Sword Immortal in person. He ascended shortly thereafter.”
For a brief instant, Heo Do’s expression twisted. Soon, it returned to calm, and he clicked his tongue loudly.
“That wretched fellow. Even if he wished to ascend so badly, would it have killed him to say farewell before leaving…?”
Heo Do knew as well. His old friend had not said goodbye precisely because he trusted him more than anyone—because they would meet again in the Immortal Realm.
After grumbling for a moment, Heo Do took a seat and spoke.
“Very well. It seems this will be a long conversation. In return for bringing me news of my old friend, I shall answer a few of your questions.”
“Thank you.”
“Taehuh, bring me a cup of tea as well.”
“Master, I have now taken the position of Sect Leader.”
“Do you think I care? You are my disciple forever.”
Under normal circumstances, those words would have been moving. But in the present situation, they were profoundly uncomfortable.
“What do you think of him, Master?”
“You mean this child?”
“Yes.”
“For now, he is far stronger than I am. Even if there were three of me here, I still could not defeat him.”
At that, Taehuh let out a sigh.
“Hah… I had heard he was called the Martial God by the Heavenly Demon, but….”
Yet at Heo Do’s next words, Taehuh gave a hollow laugh.
“That is the minimum estimate. What I sense is not everything. He may even be deliberately showing only this much.”
“…How dreadful. But that was not what I meant to ask.”
“Then what were you asking? His appearance, perhaps? With such fine features and delicate lines, if he put his mind to it, he could make every woman under heaven weep.”
“No, that is not it….”
“Hmm?”
Seeing Taehuh hesitate while watching Youngho’s expression, Youngho spoke in his stead.
“Great power depends on how it is used. If I were to harbor ill intent, I might bring harm to Kunlun.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? You look exactly like the sort your appearance suggests.”
“…And what does that mean?”
“It means your face is far too gentle.”
He had often been told he looked naive, but he had never expected to hear such words from a member of the Orthodox Sect.
Yet Taehuh, as though genuinely reassured by Heo Do’s words, was now looking at Youngho with relief in his eyes.
Youngho spoke in an awkward tone.
“How could the Sword Emperor possibly know my character?”
“Hmm… It seems you will not believe me if I simply say you are gentle. Taehuh.”
“Yes, Master.”
“At the very least, do not provoke this one. If left alone, he will do nothing. But if provoked, he is the type who would do anything. The very survival of Kunlun depends on this—engrave it into your heart.”
“…Understood.”
By now, deep fear had settled in Taehuh’s eyes as he looked at Youngho.
Seeing his disciple’s attitude, Heo Do smiled in satisfaction.
“Very well. That is how I see you. Now, I would like to hear your own thoughts.”
“You are so accurate that I have nothing to add.”
“More importantly, our conversation drifted earlier. Is there anything you are curious about? As recompense for forgiving my disciple’s rudeness, I shall answer your questions with sincerity.”
“I may have several questions. Would that be acceptable?”
“If it is something I know, I shall answer as many as you wish.”
“Then I will begin with the most urgent matter. It concerns the war that will break out within the next few years….”
At the word war, Heo Do calmly looked toward Taehuh.
Reading Taehuh’s gaze, Heo Do let out a sigh.
Youngho’s words were the truth. There was not a single trace of falsehood in them. That truth unsettled Heo Do all the more.
Silence gradually consumed the room. Taehuh and the elders beside him could only swallow dryly in the suffocating atmosphere.
Youngho lifted the teacup placed before him and brought it to his lips.
His movements were composed, yet his utterly expressionless face gave him an eerie air that felt somehow alien.
After a brief silence, Heo Do spoke as Youngho set the cup down again.
“A war… So it will happen in the end.”
“Yes. I am not asking for the Sword Emperor’s assistance. This is not a burden I wish to place upon a senior of the Martial World.”
At those unexpected words, Heo Do looked both surprised and intrigued.
“You are truly commendable in your thinking. I have been meditating so much lately that I have neglected the care of my body.”
“You do not seem to find it strange that a member of the Unorthodox Faction would say such things.”
“Did my friend not tell you? A person who has met an Immortal does not lack humanity. There are exceptions, of course—but you are not one of them.”
As their conversation flowed naturally, Taehuh suddenly sprang to his feet.
“Did you just say Immortal?”
Heo Do frowned at Taehuh, who had unconsciously raised his voice.
“Yes. Is there a problem? There stands a Half-Immortal before your very eyes.”
“N-no, but even so, how could someone of the Unorthodox Faction meet an Immortal…?”
“An Immortal can be met by even an ordinary person, provided the conditions are met. Of course, those conditions are nearly impossible.”
Taehuh still looked at Youngho with confusion, unable to believe it. Heo Do clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk, my disciple, you still cannot escape your prejudices.”
“Master, you are half an Immortal. Naturally, your values differ greatly from ours.”
“True. You are correct. But all people in this world are equal. More precisely, birth is equal—but the circumstances into which one is born are not.”
“I understand. Birth may be equal, but that does not mean it is fair.”
“Indeed. Even that Emperor who governs this nation must eat and drink to live, just as we do.”
“Master…!”
It was an extremely dangerous statement. Though people often criticized the ruler in private, few would dare to insult the Emperor directly.
Heo Do let out a deep sigh at Taehuh’s flustered reaction.
“Very well. Perhaps mentioning the Emperor went too far. It may be difficult for you to understand.”
“Yes, that was somewhat excessive….”
“If the conditions are met, even those fellows of the Demonic Cult can meet an Immortal.”
Taehuh repeatedly rubbed his solar plexus as if soothing an ache.
“What is wrong?”
“A mild stomach cramp.”
“I see.”
Heo Do’s demeanor—appearing indifferent not only to worldly affairs but even to those around him—truly befitted someone called an Immortal.