novelraw Chapter 215 : Chapter 215
Chapter 215 : Chapter 215
Chapter 215. Preparation (3)
After all the discussions were over, Jin Yuseong and his comrades left the mountain and began to move.
The group of four who had decided to become the martial arts instructors of the Twin Heroes Alliance were also with them.
After moving northwest from Fujian for about half a month, they reached Mount Heng in Hunan.
Mount Heng.
The place where the Mount Heng Sect, which had once helped Jin Yuseong, Nam Geon, and Baek Hyang, was located.
As they ascended the mountain using lightness techniques, they could see Taoist priests training here and there on Mount Heng.
“Huh?”
One of the young Taoist priests recognized them and waved his arm.
“Young Master Jin!! Over here!!”
Jin Yuseong smiled faintly at Yeongcheon's bright greeting.
Young Master. It was an expression he hadn't heard in a truly long time.
Because after being kidnapped by the Fighting Venerable, everyone he met would call him Great Hero.
When he approached Yeongcheon, he smiled brightly and said.
“Hahaha. It's truly a new feeling to meet you again like this. Ah, I should call you Great Hero now, not Young Master.”
“It's fine to just call me Young Master.”
“How could I do that? Isn't it already rumored all over Jianghu that you are called the Great Hero?”
Jin Yuseong chuckled and replied.
“Seeing that you know the rumors of Jianghu inside and out, it seems you are still very interested in the secular world these days.”
“Ahem. Well, even without necessarily going out into the secular world, the Great Hero's rumors have reached the top of the rugged Mount Heng.”
As if embarrassed, Yeongcheon smiled and added.
“Ah, by the way, what brings you here?”
“I came to have a word with the Sect Leader.”
“Hahaha. Then I will guide you.”
Following Yeongcheon's lead, they climbed Mount Heng again for a while.
They arrived at a familiar peak.
The peak where the Mount Heng Sect Leader had resided since before.
As expected, the Mount Heng Sect Leader was sitting cross-legged on a rock there.
“We greet the Sect Leader.”
Starting with Jin Yuseong, his comrades simultaneously cupped their fists at him.
Then, the Mount Heng Sect Leader also smiled faintly in response.
“Hohoho. It has been a truly long time. And there are many new faces. I am Mokheoja, the Sect Leader of the Mount Heng Sect.”
A face he encountered after about four years.
The face of the Mount Heng Sect Leader, whose hair was already tinged with white four years ago, now had several liver spots.
Looking at that face, Jin Yuseong opened his mouth.
“Actually, I have come to ask a favor of the Mount Heng Sect Leader.”
“Heo. Your strength has already far surpassed our Mount Heng, so what favor could you have to ask of us?”
In fact, it was just that the Mount Heng Sect Leader's cultivation was deep, so he was not shaken.
The Sect Leader was aware.
That the ones who had come to see him were all masters who surpassed him.
And most of them were of a similar age to Yeongcheon or even younger.
Except for just four people, who looked as old as himself.
Yeongcheon also showed a belatedly surprised expression at the Sect Leader's words.
He had known for a while that Jin Yuseong and his comrades' level had surpassed his own.
But to not only surpass the Sect Leader but to use the expression 'far surpassed'.
While Yeongcheon was surprised, Jin Yuseong answered the Sect Leader's question.
“While traveling through Jianghu, I happened to learn about a place called the Demonic Cult.”
Jin Yuseong discussed the deeds of the Demonic Cult and their dangers.
“I know that the Mount Heng Sect has no interest in the secular world. However, they are a case of intervention in the secular world from the Heavenly Realm.”
“Heo……”
“Also, if we leave them alone, all humans living in the secular world may be treated as elixirs by them.”
“Such wicked people!”
As if his meddlesome personality hadn't gone anywhere, Yeongcheon showed an angry expression.
Then, the Sect Leader's gaze turned towards Yeongcheon.
“……I apologize. But still, this matter seems a bit serious, Sect Leader.”
At Yeongcheon's words, the Sect Leader stroked his beard as if in deep thought.
To this, Jin Yuseong added.
“I am not asking you to fight the Demonic Cult. Please just help us find them.”
They needed manpower to search for them along with Shaolin, the Beggars' Gang, and the Twin Heroes Alliance.
The Central Plains was vast, but they had to find those hiding somewhere in the even vaster world beyond the borders.
“Or, please take care of the common folk in this vicinity so that others can focus more on finding the Demonic Cult.”
The Sect Leader, who was pondering while stroking his long white beard, let out a sigh.
“Haa. Indeed, this matter, no matter how much it is a worldly affair, seems difficult to simply overlook.”
As the Sect Leader showed his intention to accept, Jin Yuseong cupped his fist once again.
“Thank you very much, Sect Leader.”
***
A few days after Jin Yuseong and his comrades finished their business on Mount Heng and moved again using lightness techniques.
They arrived at Heavenly Sun Village.
Jin Yuseong's hometown. And the place where Baek Hyang's mother had been living for several years.
Yang Hwan, who recognized Jin Yuseong's face at the inn, smiled brightly.
“Yuseong! My, how long has it been!”
“I apologize for my late visit, elder.”
Jin Yuseong had deliberately avoided visiting until now.
It wasn't simply because he was busy.
The ones Jin Yuseong pursued were all villains.
If he frequented this place, there was a risk that those who had been defeated by Jin Yuseong would target Yang Hwan for revenge.
But now, he could visit this place with a relatively easy mind.
At least, he had succeeded in eliminating most of the enemies he had originally targeted.
“Aigoo. It's alright. It's alright. I've already heard your rumors to my heart's content through the mouths of the people coming and going.”
Among those rumors, there were some ominous ones mixed in.
For example, the rumor that he was kidnapped by a quirky and terrifying old man called the Fighting Venerable.
However, he did not bother to mention such stories.
“You've been working hard traveling the world and helping pitiful people. How could you have had the time to visit this place when you were so busy.”
On Old Man Yang's face, a mix of welcome, pleasure, and a small amount of worry was blended.
While Old Man Yang was exchanging greetings with Jin Yuseong, Baek Hyang was also catching up with her mother.
“I'm sorry, Mom. I couldn't even visit often.”
After exchanging greetings for a while, Old Man Yang clapped his hands.
“Oh my! Such a welcome guest has arrived, and I've just been keeping you standing.”
At those words, Baek Hyang's mother also smiled gently.
“We have eleven guests, so I'll have to prepare a proper feast.”
***
Baek Hyang's mother truly laid out a spread so lavish the table legs could have broken.
“Wow, Hyang's mom is a r-really good cook!”
Nam Geon shoved food into his mouth with a very excited face.
Various stories were exchanged along with the meal.
They mainly talked about the things Jin Yuseong and his comrades experienced while traveling through Jianghu.
However, there was someone else whose eyes shone the most while listening to the stories.
“Ooh! As expected of the Great Hero!!”
Paeng Daecheol had a very excited face.
On the other hand, Yang Hwan and Baek Hyang's mother had complicated expressions.
They were proud, but there were many dangerous stories, so their worry was greater.
The four old men, noticing this, told anecdotes they had experienced on behalf of Jin Yuseong and his comrades.
“There is a place called Guilin in Guangxi. The scenery there is so outstanding that even drinking cheap rice wine feels like drinking expensive white liquor.”
Instead of stories filled with blood, they discussed the romance of traveling through Jianghu.
Unlike Jin Yuseong, who had only searched for villains, they had had various experiences while traveling through Jianghu.
People who had met after a long time and people who were seeing each other for the first time mingled.
There were so many stories to share, and time passed just as quickly.
As the sun set, the joyful moments came to an end, and with the brightening sky, the moment of farewell came again.
“I will visit again after this matter is over, elder.”
“Yes. Travel safely.”
“I'll be back, Mom! Take care!”
“Yes. Don't you worry.”
After bidding farewell to Yang Hwan, Jin Yuseong and his comrades began to move north again.
***
After moving for about ten days using lightness techniques.
Jin Yuseong and his comrades arrived at the Seomoon Clan.
The Seomoon Clan Leader and the younger generation, as well as Blacksmith Yeo and Yeo Yun, welcomed them.
But for Jin Yuseong, there was a more welcome face.
“Brother Sama! When did you return to the Central Plains?”
At Jin Yuseong's happy greeting, Sama Hyeon smiled bitterly.
“I received an urgent message from the Beggars' Gang. It was about the place called the Demonic Cult.”
“So that's why you returned.”
Jin Yuseong thought it was for the better.
It was for this reason that he had specifically visited the Seomoon Clan before his closed-door training in the first place.
Jin Yuseong additionally told the Seomoon Clan Leader and Teacher Sama what he had learned about the Demonic Cult.
And then he introduced the four old men who had come with them.
“These men will be teaching the younger generation of the Twin Heroes Alliance from now on.”
The Seomoon Clan Leader's eyes, which were observing their faces, widened.
“N-no. Isn't that the Great Hero Flowing Wind Sword? Now that I see, this is the Great Hero White Shadow Spear! How did you all get so old!?”
It was the Seomoon Clan Leader who recognized them belatedly.
When the Seomoon Clan Leader recognized them, they smiled bitterly and briefly explained their story.
“The one who saved us, who were no different from slaves, was none other than the Great Hero Ghost Sword here.”
After their explanation, everyone who had been listening looked at Jin Yuseong with an expression of 'as expected'.
Jin Yuseong smiled bitterly and changed the subject.
“In any case, please cooperate with Shaolin and the Beggars' Gang to find the Demonic Cult guys hidden beyond the borders. Ah, I have also passed the word to the Mount Heng Sect, so they will cooperate actively as well.”
Surprisingly, it was the Taoist priest Cheongheo of the Diancang Sect who reacted to Jin Yuseong's words.
He had also come to this place with Sama Hyeon, who had returned to the Central Plains.
“Beyond the borders, you say. I don't know about other places, but our Diancang Sect will also look for them in the Nanman area, which is adjacent to Yunnan.”
To this, Jin Yuseong also willingly expressed his gratitude.
“I am truly grateful.”
After having said all he needed to say, Jin Yuseong spoke to those at the Seomoon Clan.
“We plan to enter closed-door training for a while to prepare for the fight until we find the Demonic Cult's headquarters.”
Then he added a final remark.
“If you happen to discover the Demonic Cult's headquarters or if any problems arise, please send someone immediately to deliver the news.”
Having finished all their business in the secular world, Jin Yuseong and his comrades headed west again.
The place for their closed-door training had already been decided when they left Fujian.
After heading west like that for another ten days or so.
They finally arrived at their destination.
One of the mountains known as the Five Great Mountains in the Central Plains, located in Shaanxi. At Mount Hua.
***
A few months later. Somewhere beyond the borders.
A man sitting on a grand tutor's chair engraved with a black dragon frowned and asked.
“What has become of the search for that youngster called the Ghost Sword?”
“T-that is……. He disappeared without a trace at some point.”
“Do you think I asked to hear the same answer as last time?”
The immense energy flowing through the Cult Leader's body began to press down on his subordinate.
The subordinate's energy began to boil violently, and his joints screamed.
Despite the pain, the subordinate did not let out a single groan.
Because the moment he groaned, he could really be killed by the Cult Leader.
“Then shouldn't you have interrogated those who might know the Ghost Sword's location to find him?”
The subordinate could not easily give an answer.
The Cult Leader, looking down at the subordinate wriggling like a worm, clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”
Only then was the subordinate freed from the energy and gasped for breath as cautiously as possible.
At that moment, an old man cautiously entered the place.
“What is it, Great Elder?”
At the Cult Leader's indifferent question, the old man called the Great Elder paid his respects and answered.
“I greet the master of the world, Your Holiness. There is news that Shaolin and the Beggars' Gang have been frequenting the lands beyond the borders recently.”
“Are you saying they are looking for us?”
“That is correct.”
“Huhuhu. That's for the better. If the Buddha Venerable is alive, isn't this a chance to devour him?”
It didn't matter if it was the Ghost Sword or the Buddha Venerable.
If he devoured one more fairly useful fellow, he felt he would be able to head to the Heavenly Realm then.
As the Cult Leader let out a savage smile, the Great Elder cautiously replied.
“It is a matter to be rejoiced that Your Holiness is ascending to the heavens. It is just that, I earnestly hope that you will grant more people the opportunity to head to the heavens.”
The Cult Leader muttered, suppressing his gluttony.
“More people.”
The Great Elder's words were right.
Their goal was for more people to ascend to the heavens.
According to the will of the prophet who had passed on the knowledge of how to ascend to the heavens to them.
“Good. Then speak. What is the method that the Great Elder is thinking of?”
“The Beggars' Gang and Shaolin, two of the most prominent forces in the Central Plains, are focusing on the outside. Also, in the Central Plains, there are those who were biding their time, watching them. The hypocrites who pretend to be of the Righteous Path, I mean.”
The eyes of the Great Elder, who was plotting a conspiracy, shone wickedly.