Chapter 154
Chapter 154
Namgung Cheon stood in the very center of the place prepared to receive Youngho.
‘He will arrive soon….’
He sensed people’s presence. Among them were clean auras, majestic auras, and even something like ominous Demonic Energy…?
Namgung Cheon tilted his head at the aura he could not understand.
‘Was it a mistake?’
He awakened his senses once more. Then Namgung Cheon let out a quiet chuckle.
‘Why do I feel Demonic Energy?’
Just what in the world had happened for them to bring a Demonic Practitioner?
Even as Namgung Cheon was bewildered, the carriage slowly entered the inner grounds of the lodging.
And soon, not only Namgung Cheon but also those waiting to receive Youngho began to feel puzzled.
‘Why are there only two carriages…?’
Moreover, from one carriage emanated Demonic Energy so ominous that it almost felt filthy, while the other carriage looked so shabby that it was hard to believe the Sword Exalted had ridden in it.
The situation made no sense, but even taking time to be flustered was a luxury right now.
Youngho opened the door of the shabby carriage and stepped down, lazily scanning his surroundings.
Many parts of his body were wrapped in bandages, giving his face a strange frailty. Yet no one let their guard down.
Because they knew how tremendous a presence the man before them had displayed during the previous Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.
They knew very well that if he truly wished it, whether the opponent was strong or weak, there was at least one person here whom he could certainly kill.
Han Yonghu also stepped down from the carriage following Youngho. As he looked around at the people nearby, his face seemed somewhat uneasy.
However, instead of asking about it, Namgung Cheon approached Youngho, cupped his fist in greeting, and spoke.
“I greet the Sword Exalted. Thank you for coming such a long way.”
Seeing Namgung Cheon showing him more courtesy than necessary, Youngho opened his mouth.
“Our ages are similar, so there is no need to treat me so formally. Please feel free to be more comfortable.”
His eyes were indifferent and his voice emotionless. Yet precisely because there was no unnecessary emotion in his words, their sincerity felt even clearer.
Namgung Cheon nodded.
“I will guide you to your quarters, Sword Exalted.”
“I would appreciate that.”
Just as Youngho was about to follow Namgung Cheon—
“You unbeliever bastards!”
Kuuuuung—!
Terrifyingly ominous Demonic Energy began to ripple through the surroundings. It was such dense Demonic Energy that it nearly suffocated the breath.
No trace of human intellect could be felt any longer from Biyeong, who continued spewing Demonic Energy.
Only a beast remained—one that desired nothing but blood.
Gojeong was startled when Biyeong, who had seemed dead and unconscious until just moments ago, suddenly began rampaging, and he tried to restrain him.
But before Gojeong could even move, Kang Chowon struck the back of Biyeong’s head.
Bang—!
A thunderous explosion-like sound rang out, and Biyeong’s body immediately went limp.
Kang Chowon caught the drooping body, hanging like a long strand of taffy, and spoke in an irritated voice.
“No, if you saw he woke up you should’ve knocked him out immediately. Why were you dawdling? Hurry and take him away. I don’t know what trick was used, but even after destroying his Dantian and severing the tendons in his limbs he’s still perfectly lively.”
Kang Chowon frowned as if merely touching Biyeong’s body disgusted her.
“Take him already. I want to rest too.”
“Ah… yes. Understood.”
Gojeong stared blankly at Kang Chowon for a moment before coming back to his senses and receiving Biyeong.
Gojeong began giving orders to his subordinates, but Kang Chowon shuddered as if she wanted nothing more to do with the Orthodox Sect and muttered.
‘Why is the handling of things so frustrating?’
To begin with, transporting a criminal at the very place meant to receive the Sword Exalted was uncomfortable in many ways.
Suppressing her temper, Kang Chowon headed toward where Youngho was.
Namgung Cheon was standing beside him, but it did not matter. Youngho was not the type to care about such things, and more importantly, she was Youngho’s escort.
Although Namgung Cheon had clearly witnessed what had just happened with his own eyes, the situation was so unbelievable that he groaned softly and immediately apologized to Youngho.
“I apologize for the lack of preparation. The schedule for the Joint Training turned out to be sooner than expected…”
“It is fine. By the way, must I go to my quarters immediately?”
“You do not have to. Would you like to look around the area?”
“I will take a short walk. I will not require a guide.”
“If you need assistance, please ask anyone nearby. They will not commit discourtesy.”
“Thank you for the consideration.”
After that, Youngho suddenly left the place as if he had no further interest.
Indifferent and cold. Seeing how completely different he was from the last time, Namgung Cheon watched Youngho’s departing back with a strange expression.
Looking closely, it was not only Youngho. All of his subordinates were similar.
Indifferent.
Even though members of the Unorthodox Faction had visited here several times before, the Orthodox and the Unorthodox could never truly mix.
Therefore conflict should have been inevitable.
Yet Youngho and his subordinates showed no reaction regardless of how the Orthodox Sect looked at them.
One could say they simply did not care.
But put more harshly—they were ignoring them.
Unable to understand the situation at all, Tang Gunhyeon quietly approached Namgung Cheon and whispered.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but the atmosphere seems pretty serious. Don’t stir things up for no reason.”
“…I know.”
Three days passed after Youngho arrived at the Joint Training Ground.
“I truly feel sorry about what happened that day. I sincerely apologize. Please accept my apology.”
Tang Gunhyeon bowed his head as he spoke, and Kang Chowon nodded indifferently.
“Yes, I accept your apology.”
As if she had finished her business, Kang Chowon immediately walked past Tang Gunhyeon.
Tang Gunhyeon stared blankly at her departing back and muttered.
“…Is this really okay?”
At his murmur, Namgung Cheon spoke with a serious expression.
“I don’t know. But one thing hasn’t changed—this situation is extremely dangerous.”
Not long after Kang Chowon arrived here, Tang Gunhyeon had apologized for something he had done in the past.
It was part of accepting the mistakes he had committed while living recklessly. Tang Gunhyeon had even been prepared to take it quietly if Kang Chowon struck him.
But contrary to his expectations, Kang Chowon’s answer had been extremely simple.
—Yes, I accept your apology.
It was one thing that she accepted it so easily, but after answering she had immediately walked past him.
At first he thought she was still angry.
After all, even the smallest grudge was something people rarely forgot.
So Tang Gunhyeon apologized again, just in case.
But the answer remained the same. Feeling something was strange, he kept apologizing repeatedly, yet Kang Chowon never showed the slightest sign of irritation and accepted the apology every single time.
Watching this entire sequence of events, Namgung Cheon could not hide his confusion at the bizarre situation.
Over the past three days, unable to overcome his curiosity, Namgung Cheon eventually attempted to approach Youngho and his subordinates.
But everyone he met was cold.
It felt as though an icy wall stood between them, and even Namgung Cheon could do nothing.
Strangely enough, the one who had treated him the warmest was Youngho.
Yet even Youngho behaved as if he had lost the occasional warmth he once showed the Orthodox Sect.
While discussing Youngho, Namgung Cheon and Tang Gunhyeon walked nearby.
Then they saw it.
For the first time since arriving here, Youngho was smiling at someone from the Orthodox Sect.
The person he smiled at was none other than Hwangbo Nyeong.
Namgung Cheon and Tang Gunhyeon wanted to overhear their conversation, but their level was insufficient to escape Youngho’s senses.
After speaking briefly, Youngho and Hwangbo Nyeong parted ways. They had talked for about half a quarter-hour, yet Hwangbo Nyeong’s face looked strangely gaunt.
Feeling something odd, Namgung Cheon and Tang Gunhyeon quietly followed her.
Before long, Hwangbo Nyeong encountered another man and let out a deep sigh.
Seeing her sigh as if the ground itself might collapse, Namgung Cheon transmitted his voice to Tang Gunhyeon.
—Should we get a little closer?
—Won’t we get caught?
—If it’s Sister Nyeong, we should be able to get a little closer.
—True. Even if she’s the Fist Queen, she’s not at the Sword Exalted’s level.
“…Did you gain anything?”
“I don’t know either.”
“If you don’t know the information you obtained, what are we supposed to do?”
When Hwangbo Nyeong asked in an unpleasant tone, the man coughed awkwardly and spoke.
“Anyway, it seems certain the Sword Exalted won’t move personally.”
“That’s what makes it scarier. I know him because we’re friends—if he points out a mistake, he’ll do it thoroughly. So be careful.”
After hearing the conversation, Namgung Cheon and Tang Gunhyeon could not hide their confusion.
—What on earth does that mean?
—How would I know?
“Meow.”
Because they were focused on the conversation, they failed to notice their surroundings.
When the sudden cry of a cat sounded behind them, Namgung Cheon and Tang Gunhyeon were startled and their auras wavered for an instant.
And someone as strong as Hwangbo Nyeong could not possibly miss such a fleeting disturbance.
Hwangbo Nyeong shouted sharply, unable to hide her anger.
“Who’s there!? If you don’t come out before I count to three, I’m coming myself!”
Overwhelmed by the intense presence of the valiant woman, Namgung Cheon and Tang Gunhyeon awkwardly revealed themselves.
Seeing that the eavesdroppers were people she knew, Hwangbo Nyeong let out a sigh of relief.
“What’s going on? Did you come because you want to spar with me? The person next to you seems to be from the Tang Family… but I don’t remember seeing you before.”
At Hwangbo Nyeong’s blunt remark, Tang Gunhyeon laughed awkwardly while Namgung Cheon chuckled.
“This friend of mine changed completely while undergoing Closed-Door Training. I expected you might not recognize him, but I thought you’d at least feel uncertain.”
“More importantly, why were you listening to our conversation?”
“Well, that is…”
As Namgung Cheon hesitated unusually, Tang Gunhyeon glared and slapped his back hard.
Smack!
“Why did you hit me!”
Ignoring his complaint, Tang Gunhyeon spoke.
“The atmosphere has been strange lately. The Sword Exalted and his subordinates… every one of them feels strange.”
At that, Hwangbo Nyeong’s face stiffened like stone.
Seeing her expression suddenly become serious, Namgung Cheon and Tang Gunhyeon instinctively realized something had happened.
After a moment of contemplation, Hwangbo Nyeong asked the man beside her.
“Would it be alright if these two also joined our discussion?”
“We needed another opinion anyway, so I don’t mind.”
Namgung Cheon glanced between them and asked.
“But Sister, who is this gentleman…?”
“Ah?”
When Hwangbo Nyeong looked at the man awkwardly, he smiled sheepishly and said.
“My apologies. I recently received an ugly scar on my face, so I have been wearing a Human-Skin Mask. My name is Hyeonu. It is an honor to meet the Emperor Sword and the Dark Emperor, who recently elevated the reputation of the Orthodox Sect.”
“Hyeonu… could you perhaps be a disciple of the Sword Immortal?”
“That is correct.”
A disciple of the Sword Immortal!
Namgung Cheon had sensed he was an extraordinary figure due to his high realm, but he had never imagined he was the Sword Immortal’s disciple.
Just as Namgung Cheon was about to ask something—
“You… you’re the Dark Emperor?”
Hwangbo Nyeong glared at Tang Gunhyeon as if she might kill him on the spot.
“That guy is picky, arrogant, unpleasant, and lives full of himself. There’s no way someone like that would be as polite as you.”
Hwangbo Nyeong said it with absolute conviction.
Tang Gunhyeon would never change.
To begin with, he didn’t even look like that. His nose was always held high, his eyes soaked in arrogance and a sense of superiority. Looking down on others was his default tone, and he barely even greeted people properly.
But Hwangbo Nyeong had seen it.
She had seen Namgung Cheon comforting Tang Gunhyeon, who was wiping away tears and looking extremely withdrawn.
Faced with this absurd situation, Hwangbo Nyeong’s mouth fell open.
It was the moment when the absolute law she believed in—her unwavering certainty—was shattered.