Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Youngho did not hide his smile as he listened to everything Myeongnyang said.
‘As expected, he is capable.’
In truth, Youngho also knew about the Heretical Art called All Phenomena of the Myriad World. The reason he had not mentioned it directly was simply to see just how much Myeongnyang had grown.
And Myeongnyang had met Youngho’s expectations splendidly.
All Phenomena of the Myriad World infused the energy of Heretical Arts into objects devoid of life.
And the duration of the Heretical Art lasted exactly one week. It could only be described as a truly terrifying technique.
The activation condition of the Heretical Art was also nothing more than making brief contact with the object.
Of course, since the spell formula had to be prepared beforehand, it could not be produced infinitely.
‘No matter how painful it was, it was said to be even worse than consuming Innate True Qi, wasn’t it?’
As befitted its tremendous efficacy, the price paid for the technique was also immense.
And Myeongnyang had taken incomplete information and, by adding his own deductions, turned it into complete knowledge.
The expressions of Cheonung and Chief Aide Cheongsol, who had just learned about the Heretical Art called All Phenomena of the Myriad World, began to harden gravely.
“Then does that mean the Unorthodox Alliance as well…?”
When Chief Aide Cheongsol asked in a trembling voice, Myeongnyang nodded.
Chief Aide Cheongsol’s complexion immediately turned pale.
“If All Phenomena of the Myriad World has been cast upon the Chief Aide’s garments, then they may be listening to this very conversation right now.”
It was an extremely serious problem.
“Alliance Lord. Until we find a way to counter this Heretical Art, perhaps we should walk around without our clothes from now on.”
“Are you serious?”
Cheonung stared at Chief Aide Cheongsol with an incredulous expression, but upon seeing the determination in his face, he realized just how grave the current situation truly was.
At that moment, Youngho opened his mouth.
“It would be useless. Even if you remove your clothes, the Heretical Art would likely be cast on Master’s sword or on the brush Chief Aide Cheongsol uses most often.”
“There is no way a Demonic Practitioner could enter the Unorthodox Alliance.”
When Cheonung spoke sternly, Youngho grinned.
“You never know. We can detect Demonic Arts, but if someone learned only Heretical Arts without cultivating Demonic Arts, there would be no way for us to identify them. Even at this very moment, there might be a Demonic Practitioner among the attendants working inside the Unorthodox Alliance.”
The more Youngho spoke, the more Cheonung and Chief Aide Cheongsol’s expressions stiffened. Yet in this place, there was only one person who read the ease in Youngho’s demeanor—Myeongnyang.
“Fifth Young Master, I have something I wish to ask. May I?”
At Myeongnyang’s calm tone, Youngho grinned.
“Of course. A Strategist must make use of even fragmentary information. If I can cooperate, I should do so as much as possible.”
“Then let me ask one thing. Judging by your current behavior, it seems you already have a plan in place. Am I correct?”
At the unexpected words from Myeongnyang’s mouth, Cheonung and Chief Aide Cheongsol flinched and turned to look at Youngho.
Their widened eyes soon narrowed, and their gazes shifted from merely looking at him to outright glaring.
‘No wonder he looked so relaxed!’
‘That sly snake of a brat?!’
Unbothered by their glares, Youngho spoke.
“To put it simply, All Phenomena of the Myriad World cannot function within the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“You already made a move?!”
When Cheonung exclaimed in surprise, Youngho smiled proudly.
“Of course, I entrusted it to an expert, but I was the one who gave the order.”
“What method did you use?”
“Once something enters the buildings of the Unorthodox Alliance, any object imbued with All Phenomena of the Myriad World is purified. In simple terms, the Heretical Art disappears.”
Chief Aide Cheongsol analyzed Youngho’s words as quickly as possible and asked,
“Is it a formation?”
“That’s right. I asked Muyeon. Not just any ordinary formation, but one specifically designed to block Heretical Arts.”
Chief Aide Cheongsol displayed a rare, bright smile.
“Then if something enters the Unorthodox Alliance, all Heretical Arts are undone?”
“No, not quite to that extent.”
“Pardon?”
“I said not quite that much. The formation I asked Muyeon for is exclusively for All Phenomena of the Myriad World. As for other Heretical Arts, they won’t be completely undone, but they’ll be neutralized to some extent.”
“Ah….”
Even that was more than enough, yet somehow it left a faint sense of anticlimax.
“In any case, information from within the Unorthodox Alliance won’t leak outside.”
“So it means it can leak when outside?”
“That’s right. Wouldn’t it be better to create codes? We can’t block Heretical Arts outside the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“Hm… I will manage that problem somehow. Then what will you do now? Though it is speculation, I believe the Demonic Cult will use All Phenomena of the Myriad World to steal the Sacred Relic of the Wudang Sect.”
“Ugh….”
Cheonung groaned as if his head hurt.
“Is there no way to secretly divert the Sacred Relic of the Wudang Sect?”
“What insane nonsense are you saying? Are you groaning because you’re trying to figure out how to steal the relic?”
“Of course.”
At Cheonung’s shameless response, Chief Aide Cheongsol was so dumbfounded he could not say a word.
Youngho also nodded.
“Master. It may be too soon. I will memorize the shape of the relic, and after the war with the Demonic Cult ends, we can extract it. We still need to cooperate with the Orthodox Sect for now.”
“Fifth Young Master. That sounds as though you intend to steal the Sacred Relic of the Wudang Sect eventually?”
“What? You heard it perfectly, so why ask again?”
“…….”
Chief Aide Cheongsol realized once more that Youngho was not normal.
He should have realized it when he saw how well he matched Cheonung in that regard….
“That is not the issue right now. This matter is extremely urgent. We must quickly complete preparations to depart.”
“Master, what should we do? Should we just go with a small elite force?”
“Ask Myeongnyang now. Of course, the final approval lies with me.”
“You heard that? Your opinion is the most important, Myeongnyang.”
At last, the moment had come for him, as a Strategist, to offer counsel to his lord for the first time.
Yet Myeongnyang did not recklessly devise a strategy out of momentary excitement.
“Will Fifth Young Master be moving personally?”
“That’s right.”
“The Heavenly Demon I know would not be there, so….”
Myeongnyang’s eyes gleamed.
“It would be appropriate to bring thirty Asura Squad Members along with those personally selected by Fifth Young Master.”
Those chosen by Youngho.
It was a term that had recently emerged after Youngho was called the sole rival of the Heavenly Demon.
Blood Sword Ghost Kang Chowon, Great Rock Sword Kang Hosan, Stench Ghost Muyeon, Divine Physician of Ten Thousand Hands Hyeon-gang. And lastly, Horyeung, who was called Blood Wolf.
There were others Youngho had selected whom Myeongnyang did not know—Black Shadow, Yeongmong, and more—but the people collectively referred to them as the Chosen Ones.
It was an incredibly cringeworthy title, yet Youngho found it so amusing that he burst into giggles.
“Moreover, Fifth Young Master is currently being called the Sword Exalted….”
“Pfft!”
Before Myeongnyang could even finish speaking, Cheonung burst out laughing.
“Keu-keu-keuk!”
When Youngho glared at him with a sullen expression, Cheonung tried to suppress his laughter and said,
“Yes, my disciple… keu! To think you’re the Sword Exalted—pfft! I am proud.”
“…Just laugh.”
“No, the sole rival of the Heavenly Demon….”
Cheonung’s lips trembled uncontrollably, preventing him from speaking properly.
Beside him, Chief Aide Cheongsol also shook with suppressed laughter.
“Chief Aide Cheongsol, just laugh.”
“I am not laughing.”
“Then why are you bowing your head?”
“How could I dare to look directly upon the face of the Sword Exalted….”
“Just laugh! And am I really the Sword Exalted? Am I truly? It’s just something some people call me!”
“Some even call you the Sword God….”
“Enough!”
His face burned hot.
Youngho still had not forgotten the conversation he once had with Cheonung.
—Master, do I not seem like a demon?
—Yes, you resemble a demon more than anyone I know. So there is no need to worry about your character.
—Then why am I called Sword Exalted instead of Sword Demon?
—Because I am the Sword Demon.
—…Ah.
Unintentionally, his pre-regression title had been taken from him.
“Anyway, as Myeongnyang said, I’ll roughly gather the members and depart.”
“Very well. If a fight breaks out, this time earn recognition as the Sword God~”
Listening to Cheonung’s heartfelt mockery until the very end, Youngho stepped outside.
In truth, judging by his skill alone, it was not an undeserved title. Yet ultimately, Youngho belonged to the Unorthodox Faction.
No matter how outstanding an Unorthodox member was, the title they earned elevated their evil karma rather than their virtuous deeds.
Just as no matter how great Cheonung was, he had been called the Sword Demon rather than the Sword Emperor or Sword Sovereign, any exceptional Unorthodox member would inevitably have “Demon” attached to their title.
To earn a title like Sword Exalted, an Unorthodox member would have to accumulate virtuous deeds surpassing most Orthodox members, but that was not the path Youngho had chosen.
More precisely, it was not a choice he could make.
After all, the Heavenly Demon himself had evaluated Youngho as the Martial God.
Youngho had earned respect purely through his overwhelming Martial Might. Those who had even slightly witnessed his sword, whether Orthodox or Unorthodox, called him the Sword God.
Though no one could grasp the profundity of Youngho’s sword due to the overwhelming difference in level, that very fact only deepened their awe.
And so, amid countless criticisms and reverent whispers, Youngho had gained the title Sword Exalted.
For an Unorthodox member like Youngho to receive a lofty title usually reserved for noble Orthodox figures… no wonder Cheonung and Chief Aide Cheongsol could not hold back their laughter.
Before long, Youngho finished all preparations to depart.
Looking at the selected members, he spoke.
“As I’ve already said, I’ll repeat it once more. We are heading to confront the Demonic Cult. Any questions?”
There were countless things they wished to ask, but silence filled the space. Eventually, unable to bear it, Jongpal spoke up.
“Then where exactly are we confronting those Demonic Cult bastards?”
“We’ll traverse the mountains in Hubei. No need for precise instructions. If we see the Demonic Cult, we fight. If not, we just investigate and return.”
“It makes no sense for you to move personally for something like that, Young Master!”
“That’s true, but if we want to end it thoroughly, I need to go myself.”
It was not a matter of trust. Youngho trusted the Asura Squad. But the Demonic Cult was always a group that defied prediction.
No matter how capable Youngho was, he could not read all of the Demonic Cult’s moves.
“And besides, there’s something I want to do while I’m at it.”
“…!”
The members widened their eyes in disbelief.
Seeing their reactions, Youngho frowned slightly.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Have you finally taken up a hobby?”
“If it’s brewing alcohol rather than tea, I’ll be disappointed.”
“I dislike both alcohol and tea. That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what do you want to do…?”
Youngho smiled meaningfully.
“Before going to Hubei, we’ll stop by Henan first. I plan to boil and eat a giant octopus there.”
“There are spirit octopi too?”
“No, just an ordinary giant octopus. It’s about the size of a person.”
“But to catch an octopus, shouldn’t we head toward the sea?”
Unexpectedly, it was Hyeon-gang who answered Jongpal.
“Tsk tsk, Jongpal. How do you know Young Master less than I do?”
“Hey! Aren’t you supposed to be busy running the Medical Hall these days? Why are you here?!”
“If the Medical Hall Master personally offers treatment, just accept it gratefully!”
“Ah.”
At that moment, Kang Hosan realized something. And he prayed his prediction was wrong. He felt so desperate that it was as though he had gained faith he never had before.
With trembling eyes, Kang Hosan looked at Youngho and asked,
“Is that giant octopus at Shaolin?”
“Oh~ you know well. And despite being an octopus, it even has a name. Want to hear it?”
“No, that’s quite alright.”
The other members, having caught on, hurriedly tried to stop Youngho.
“Young Master, please calm down and let’s just go to Hubei.”
“You can boil the octopus later.”
After listening to his subordinates for a moment, Youngho smiled.
“Master, as Alliance Lord, has given me an order.”
“….”
Though the Asura Squad Members and the others looked dumbfounded, only Hyeon-gang and Kang Hosan silently prayed that no incident would occur.