Chapter 133
The warriors of the Eastern Sea had surprised expressions. Since they had really come from the Eastern Sea, they could not speak the language of the Central Plains.
However, the Eastern Sea Ghost, whom they feared and revered, had struck down the subordinate he always kept by his side, and was now forcing a smile and saying something to the mysterious master who had appeared out of nowhere.
Even if they couldn't understand, they could grasp the situation at once.
The ghost of the Eastern Sea, who feared nothing, was trying to please that young master.
At that, the martial artists who had been slaughtered by Cheon Woojin and had been waiting only for the Eastern Sea Ghost's return threw down their swords and sabers one by one.
They had already completely lost their will to fight.
Cheon Woojin, who was watching the scene, asked the Eastern Sea Ghost.
"Your subordinates?"
"Ah, no. I was just staying here for a while, and I can't even communicate properly with them, so how can they be my subordinates?"
"It seemed you understood what the guy you just killed was muttering."
The corners of the Eastern Sea Ghost's eyes trembled.
It was true that he had understood that his right-hand man had been blustering about killing the disciple of the Black Master.
However, Cheon Woojin, as if it didn't matter, slightly raised his Crescent Moon Staff. Soon, a blackish dark ki swirled around the Crescent Moon Staff, causing the surrounding air to vibrate.
"Pick up your saber again."
The Eastern Sea Ghost had thrown away the saber he was holding as soon as he saw Cheon Woojin.
The startled Eastern Sea Ghost poured out some words.
"W-why would I fight you? I really respected Senior Brother Black Master. Also, Senior Brother cherished me very much. He hated all the disciples of the Dark Heavenly Son, but he truly cherished only me."
The Eastern Sea Ghost, even waving his hands in the air, was showing his will not to fight as much as possible.
Did his sincerity get through?
Cheon Woojin's steps stopped for a moment.
"Is that true?"
"Y-yes! In any case, with your realm, you can kill me at any time, can't you? What would I gain by telling you a lie on this remote island?"
"Hmm."
Cheon Woojin tapped his Crescent Moon Staff and was lost in thought for a moment.
Not only the Eastern Sea Ghost, but also the warriors of the Eastern Sea waited with tense faces.
How much time had passed in that atmosphere that felt as if ice had descended?
As Cheon Woojin moved slightly, everyone flinched.
But Cheon Woojin sheathed his Crescent Moon Staff and then clasped his hands in a salute.
"Cheon Woojin, disciple of the Black Master. I pay my respects to my fellow sect's senior uncle."
At that sight, the Eastern Sea Ghost let out a sigh of relief. He was so nervous that his back was drenched in sweat.
The Eastern Sea Ghost glanced at Cheon Woojin's expression for a moment and then changed the subject to change the atmosphere.
"By any chance, have you ever tried the food of the Eastern Sea? This island also has a skilled cook brought from the Eastern Sea."
"Is that so."
Cheon Woojin nodded nonchalantly.
At that, the Eastern Sea Ghost, as if not to give him a chance, immediately continued.
"Now, let's go. The disciple of the Black Master, whom I respect the most in the world, has come, so as a senior uncle, I must treat you to a meal. By any chance, do you also drink? Or there is also fragrant tea."
Saying so, he naturally guided Cheon Woojin to his residence. After passing through a neatly decorated courtyard that was hard to imagine had been built on a remote island, a hall that was simple yet reflected the beauty of the Eastern Sea appeared.
"Have you been in the Eastern Sea all this time, Senior Uncle? My master said that the martial arts there are nothing special."
"Senior Brother's words are correct. That's why I went. In fact, are our senior and junior brothers a bit rough? After the Black Master, who cherished me, passed away, I couldn't stand the nagging of my senior and junior brothers and fled to the Eastern Sea. Still, in this martial world, I am the king."
"You were a ghost, not a king."
"Hahaha..."
The Eastern Sea Ghost let out a rather awkward laugh. Although he was a junior nephew much younger than him, he couldn't help but be cautious.
Looking at that Crescent Moon Staff, he kept feeling as if it would be drawn at any moment and smash his head.
The Eastern Sea Ghost did his best. As if the Black Master himself had visited, he urged the people of the Eastern Sea to bring out the best food, liquor, and tea.
Cheon Woojin, after enjoying the different food, liquor, and tea to his heart's content, suddenly said this.
"This is troublesome."
"What is?"
The Eastern Sea Ghost flinched. While cautiously watching his expression, he was preparing to draw his weapon at any time under the table.
Cheon Woojin, even though he was well aware of this, did not show it and continued in a calm tone.
"Actually, it was the Peng family head who sent me here."
"Wh-what...!"
The Eastern Sea Ghost's eyes widened like lanterns.
The Peng family head and the Grand General were the ones who were doing business with him. But, why on earth did they send such a monster to him?
"He told me to kill you, Senior Uncle Eastern Sea Ghost. He said you've served your purpose. He said that if he embezzles any more military funds, there's a risk of being caught by the emperor, so it's time to clean up."
It was a statement made just to test the Eastern Sea Ghost.
The words that the Peng family head had sent him were a lie, and the words related to the military funds were a guess.
If he was caught, good, and if not, he would just kill him.
'To think the Black Master cherished him.'
It was the most ridiculous thing he had heard this year.
The Black Master had always said to smash the skulls of all the disciples of the Dark Heavenly Son if he met them.
- Still, they are your fellow sect brothers, so was there really no one you cherished?
At such a question from Cheon Woojin, the Black Master had burst into a hearty laugh.
- No. Of course not. If there is a guy who spouts such words, smash that guy's skull twice, no, three times.
- A person has only one head, so how...
- Hey, just get the gist of it.
- Yes.
Cheon Woojin, recalling the conversation with his master, managed to stop his hand from going to his Crescent Moon Staff.
The Eastern Sea Ghost, who did not know such circumstances, shot up from his seat.
"What! That guy betrayed me!"
"Hmm, as someone who is part of the Martial Alliance, it's difficult to refuse the Peng family head's request. But it's also a bit much to smash the skull of a senior uncle whom my master cherished."
Cheon Woojin made a contemplative expression for a moment and then drove in the wedge.
"What would the Black Master have done?"
At that innocent question, the Eastern Sea Ghost's face turned pale.
What would Senior Brother Black Master have done?
There was no need to contemplate.
How dare you try to use me?
How dare you stand before me?
Cleanly, both would be dead.
Nevertheless, the Eastern Sea Ghost managed to erase that thought and said.
"S-Senior Brother would have beaten the Peng family head to death, saying how dare he try to drive a wedge between a cherished junior brother and his relationship."
"I guess so. Blood is thicker than water, after all."
"Th-that's right! Senior Brother Black Master and I were practically like real brothers. By the way, I'm really angry. I can't stand the fact that he tried to drive a wedge between me and my nephew more than the fact that he betrayed me. Where is that Peng family head guy?"
The Eastern Sea Ghost's gaze sank for the first time with a sharp edge.
Cheon Woojin could tell from this. The things about being a nephew and so on were all lies, but the desire to kill the Peng family head was sincere.
Well, if he endured even after being betrayed, he wouldn't be a disciple of the Dark Heavenly Son.
Of course, the betrayal itself was also a lie.
"I'll help a little. In fact, is there anything for me to do when you are here, Senior Uncle?"
"Hah, you are too humble! I know that the Lust Demon, the Demonic Physician, and the Demonic Physician died at your hands, nephew. Unlike Senior Brother Black Master, they were all worthless worms. With your skills, nephew, you can surely help me kill that Saber Guest guy and still have strength left over."
Cheon Woojin, feigning humility, just bowed his head.
Soon, the Eastern Sea Ghost, who had grabbed a liquor bottle, skillfully ordered his subordinates in the language of the Eastern Sea. Seeing the warriors of the Eastern Sea boarding the ship with well-sharpened sabers, it seemed to be an order to go to battle.
'Didn't he say he didn't know the language of the Eastern Sea?'
It seemed the Eastern Sea Ghost was a bit of a dim-witted guy.
* * *
News spread that the Eastern Sea Ghost's ship had appeared on the eastern coast. The Grand General and the Peng family head were greatly alarmed and rode their horses directly to the coast.
"By any chance, did that guy kill the Emotionless Guest?"
The Grand General said so. If so, he was willing to give a small amount of gold as a reward for eliminating a worry.
But the Peng family head did not answer. The ship was still far, but he was also a member of Heaven Beyond Heaven, called the Saber Guest.
He raised his internal energy and heightened his vision, and the face of the Eastern Sea Ghost, who was standing proudly on the stern, was seen in detail. The guy was very angry. Also, that anger was directed at him.
'What on earth did that Emotionless Guest guy do...'
It was then.
The Eastern Sea Ghost let out a smirk, then lightly kicked off the deck and flew up.
Soon, the guy's figure approached at a tremendous speed.
Literally tearing through the air, he was aiming a sharp straight saber that the warriors of the Eastern Sea would use.
"Th-that crazy bastard...!"
The startled Peng family head raised his great saber.
At the same time, the Eastern Sea Ghost's straight saber, which had approached in a flash, roughly struck his great saber.
The Peng family head was pushed back by the strike that had the added force of the flying speed and the Eastern Sea Ghost's shoulder strength.
Just from the aftermath, the martial artists who were around vomited blood from their mouths and noses and retreated.
The Eastern Sea Ghost used his specialty, the Fast Saber.
His thin straight saber could not cut the Peng family head's thick great saber. So he had no choice but to attack as quickly as possible and push his straight saber between the slow great saber.
The Peng family head, with a frown, swung his great saber in succession. It was just slower than the Eastern Sea Ghost's straight saber, but befitting his reputation as the Saber Guest, the large saber moved quickly.
Without any particular conversation, a hundred moves passed in an instant.
Naturally, the outcome of the fight between the Eastern Sea Ghost, who was ranked in the lower tier among the disciples of the Dark Heavenly Son, and the Saber Guest, who had reached Heaven Beyond Heaven, was already decided.
The Peng family head, who had gradually regained his composure against the Eastern Sea Ghost, said, literally chewing out the words. In the meantime, he subtly spread a ki barrier to prevent the sound from spreading to the surroundings.
"Dark Blood Saber Lord, have you really gone mad? Why on earth are you suddenly doing this bullshit!"
The Eastern Sea Ghost's real nickname was the Dark Blood Saber Lord.
He had wanted to obtain the nickname of the Saber Demon because he wanted to be compared to the Sword Demon, who was ranked at the very top among the named disciples, but he had not been able to. The reason was that compared to the Sword Demon's sword, his saber technique was like a child's play.
"Crazy bastard. I am now the Eastern Sea Ghost, not the Dark Blood Saber Lord."
"Whether you're the Saber Lord or the Eastern Sea Ghost! Why on earth are you doing this! Do you really want to die in this place?"
The Peng family head's momentum began to rise in earnest. It was an energy that the Eastern Sea Ghost could not possibly handle.
Nevertheless, he did not retreat. Since the disciple of the Black Master was on that ship, what was there to be afraid of?
"I heard everything. You dared to try to kill me, didn't you?"
"What? Where did you hear such nonsense... Don't tell me the Emotionless Guest said so?"
The Peng family head had a bewildered expression.
From that expression, the Eastern Sea Ghost was also slowly guessing that something was wrong.
Soon, the Peng family head's gaze flashed ferociously, like a tiger on a hunt.
So, this stupid bastard had been played by the Emotionless Guest's trick and had revealed all his past actions?
The Peng family head looked at the Grand General who was standing at a distance.
The situation was truly not good.
The worst was being dragged to the imperial palace for treason and being beheaded, and the second worst was being dragged by the Grand General for ruining the work and being beheaded.
'This is damn.'
The Peng family head's mind was racing. He had a strong desire to cut that stupid Eastern Sea Ghost in half and kill him right away.
But the only way to overcome this situation was to kill the Emotionless Guest and shut his mouth. How could he kill that monster-like guy alone?
In the end, he had no choice but to join forces with the Eastern Sea Ghost and pressure the Emotionless Guest.
"This stupid..."
The Peng family head, seeing the Eastern Sea Ghost's blinking face, managed to swallow the curse that was about to come out.
He then let out a long breath, exercising extreme patience.
"Haa, listen carefully. You were deceived. Thanks to that, only the things we did have been revealed. Then what will happen?"
The Eastern Sea Ghost was also stupid, but he was not without a head.
Then, it meant that the disciple of the Black Master had been acting.
The thought that he had eaten with someone who was acting to kill him sent a chill down his spine.
"Wield your saber. Pretend to fight with me. Then, when that guy appears, we'll attack him together in an instant. Just as that guy deceived us, we'll deceive him too."
The Peng family head, who had said so, prepared to fight again.
The Eastern Sea Ghost also instinctively realized that he had to do as he said.
Soon, the two's sabers met again in the air.
The Peng family head lowered his voice and asked.
"Where is that guy?"
At that, the Eastern Sea Ghost spread his ki sense wide. He had thought he was still on the ship, but he could not be caught in his ki sense at all.
It was the same for the Peng family head.
In the end, the two looked around with sidelong glances.
"No, where on earth is..."
It was then.
"Here."
A young man dropped down between the two.
At the same time, as if they had been waiting, two thin and thick sabers were swung towards Cheon Woojin.
The master of Heaven Beyond Heaven, the Saber Guest, and the disciple of the Dark Heavenly Son, the Eastern Sea Ghost.
Saber strikes befitting the reputation of the two tore through the air.
It was a speed and power that an ordinary martial artist could not even follow with their eyes, but...
Cheon Woojin's Crescent Moon Staff just calmly fell between the two sabers.
(End of Chapter)