novelraw Chapter 127 : Welcome Back
Chapter 127 : Welcome Back
When first discovered, Jin Sohyun was practically a corpse.
Pale with shock, Kang Cheon moved frantically with the sole intention of somehow saving Jin Sohyun.
‘His entire body is covered in wounds.’
There wasn't a spot on Jin Sohyun's body not covered by bandages; it was riddled with injuries.
But something was strange.
‘There are… no serious injuries.’
Aside from a deep gash on his upper chest, most of the wounds were minor.
Even the chest wound wasn't severe enough to be life-threatening.
For injuries sustained while fighting the assassins of the Nameless Pavilion alone, it was an unbelievable outcome.
It could only be called a miracle.
However, Kang Cheon did not consider it a miracle.
‘It’s probably thanks to this kid’s abnormal strength.’
Abnormal strength and an adaptability acknowledged by both the Seven Evils Demon, Gwi Myeonhyeok, and Gu Jucheol.
“You’ve worked hard.”
At Kang Cheon’s gentle voice, Jin Sohyun’s shoulders flinched.
“My family is safe, right?”
“Yes. Your family is safe.”
“Phew… that’s a relief. Thank you, Master.”
“Madam Oh went through a lot. And thanks to the Yellow Dragon Divine Sword’s help, we were able to get through it without much damage.”
“Then we’re safe for a while, right?”
Jin Sohyun pulled the blanket up over his neck.
“I think I’ll have to lie in bed for a few days. It was so exhausting.”
Kang Cheon reached out and placed a hand on Jin Sohyun’s head.
The touch was surprisingly warm.
“Rest as much as you want.”
“Haha… if you’ll allow it, then by all means… Ah, and could you tell the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple that I’ll return after recuperating for a few weeks?”
“No.”
Kang Cheon shook his head and said.
“You don’t have to go back.”
Jin Sohyun, who was about to fall asleep, blinked his eyes.
“I don’t have to go back?”
“That’s right.”
“Why…?”
“Because you single-handedly killed all the assassins of the Nameless Pavilion.”
Kang Cheon adjusted his posture and crossed his arms.
“The Central Plains is filled with martial artists and extraordinary individuals, as numerous as grains of sand in a desert. Among them, how many do you think could fight the Nameless Pavilion alone and survive?”
“Wouldn’t there be many? I survived, after all…”
“You could probably count them on one hand.”
Jin Sohyun fidgeted with his hands.
“Barely ten people?”
“Yes. Then, how many do you think could fight the Nameless Pavilion alone, kill all the assassins, and survive?”
“That’s…”
If less than ten people could survive.
How many could win?
Jin Sohyun instantly understood the intention behind Kang Cheon’s words and actions.
“Not many, I see.”
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say none. But you survived, and you won. Thanks to you, the Nameless Pavilion, which had thrown the Central Plains into terror, has suffered irreparable damage. It’s as if you finished the Nameless Pavilion by yourself.”
He thought he would be happy if the Nameless Pavilion disappeared.
But rather than happy, the feeling was strange.
As his head cleared, Jin Sohyun began to worry about the future.
“The Heretic Path's Alliance is going to be a nuisance.”
“Will it only be the Heretic Path's Alliance? The entire heretical world will come to know the man named Jin Sohyun. Those seeking to make a name for themselves will challenge you, and at their forefront will be the Heretic Path's Alliance.”
“Ugh…!”
Jin Sohyun scratched his head frantically.
Living a peaceful, prosperous, and lazy life was Jin Sohyun’s simple dream.
But the world wouldn’t leave Jin Sohyun alone.
“What did I ever do to deserve all this trouble?”
Jin Sohyun was sulking out of a sense of injustice.
“Sohyun.”
Kang Cheon called to him.
“Yes!”
Could his master have a good solution?
As Jin Sohyun’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, Kang Cheon spoke softly.
“Hide.”
“Hide?”
“You no longer need to fight the heretical factions. We can announce to the world that you suffered severe, critical injuries in the fight with the Nameless Pavilion and can no longer live the life of a martial artist. Given who your opponents were, no one will doubt it.”
“That means…”
“For a while, you won’t be able to roam the Central Plains as freely as before, but you will be able to live the life you want.”
A faint smile appeared on Kang Cheon’s lips.
“A lazy and prosperous life, that is.”
***
After Kang Cheon left.
Lying alone in bed and staring at the ceiling, Jin Sohyun felt strange.
It was clearly something to be happy about.
—Until now, you have not lived as you wished. You did not learn martial arts of your own will, nor did you fight the Heretic Path's Alliance of your own will. So from now on… live the life you want.
Before leaving, Kang Cheon had told him to live the life he wanted.
Just as Kang Cheon said.
“I haven’t lived the way I wanted.”
The life of a prosperous lazybones.
Doing nothing, just lazing around in the Jin Clan’s estate, eating the fruits from Mr. Yu’s that Siu brings.
This was the very life Jin Sohyun desired.
“Alright. I’ve decided.”
Lying in bed, Jin Sohyun raised his two clenched fists toward the sky.
“I’m going to live the way I want! I’ll laze around to my heart’s content!”
In any case, the Nameless Pavilion was now as good as defunct, and the Martial Alliance and the righteous martial world would take care of the Heretic Path's Alliance and the rest of the heretical world.
“My absence won’t even be noticed.”
Jin Sohyun still considered himself just a lazybones who liked to loaf around.
“Besides, the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple has many excellent martial artists like Cheon Gaseong and Miss Cheon.”
Jin Sohyun pulled the blanket over his head and stopped thinking.
“Kuuuh…”
Falling asleep at a speed comparable to the Shadowless Steps, Jin Sohyun was able to sleep soundly for the first time in a very long while.
***
“The Nameless Pavilion Master is dead, and a large number of the Nameless Pavilion’s special-grade and first-grade assassins have also died?”
“That is correct.”
Mu Yu trembled, his head pressed to the floor in front of Ju Cheon.
The Nameless Pavilion was the most outstanding assassin organization under the Heretic Path's Alliance.
And that Nameless Pavilion had lost all its power and collapsed overnight.
All at the hands of a single person.
The damage was expected to be even greater, especially since the Nameless Pavilion had been handling all the assassinations for the Heretic Path's Alliance after the Silver Spike Sect was discarded.
“What about the target, Jin Sohyun?”
“No precise information has come in yet, but according to rumors, he suffered irreparable injuries in the fight with the Nameless Pavilion and is currently being treated at his estate. It is said that his life as a martial artist is effectively over.”
“Hm.”
Surviving a fight against all the assassins of the Nameless Pavilion by himself was a miracle in itself.
So it was understandable that he could no longer live the life of a martial artist.
But Ju Cheon had a very uneasy feeling.
“Have the Hao Sect keep a close watch on Jin Sohyun. If he is sound, contrary to the rumors… you must kill him, no matter what it takes.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Mu Yu.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader!”
“You moved the Nameless Pavilion without a word of consultation with me. And in the end, you caused a massive loss to the Heretic Path's Alliance. The Nameless Pavilion was a force that could not be spared in the war against the righteous martial world.”
Gulp—!
Mu Yu swallowed dryly and bit his lip.
In that time, Ju Cheon had already descended from his chair and approached Mu Yu.
When he lifted his head, he could see Ju Cheon’s shoes.
“If you would just give me one more chance…”
Thud!
Ju Cheon’s hand rested on Mu Yu’s shoulder.
“Well done.”
“…!”
“If, as you explained, the one called Jin Sohyun possessed the strength and potential to destroy the Nameless Pavilion single-handedly, then it was right to kill him. Although you failed to kill him, if his life as a martial artist is over, it is as good as killing him.”
“That… is correct.”
“Losing the Nameless Pavilion is heartbreaking, but if we can exclude Jin Sohyun from our war, it is an unparalleled achievement. However.”
Ju Cheon’s voice was dry and emotionless.
But Mu Yu knew well just how terrifying that was.
He possessed no emotions.
Since he held no affection, Ju Cheon was a man who could cast aside even Mu Yu, who had been by his side for so long, in an instant.
“If the rumors about Jin Sohyun turn out to be false, then you will have to stake your neck on it. Mu Yu.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
After finishing his report and returning to his office, Mu Yu collapsed into his chair, breathing heavily.
“Huuuh—!!”
“Are you alright?”
Seolpyeong asked in a worried tone.
Mu Yu waved his hand dismissively.
“I’m fine. This position is like that. People call me the second-in-command of the Heretic Path's Alliance, but in reality, it’s a position where my head could fly off at any moment.”
Stroking his neck, Mu Yu scanned the documents Seolpyeong had brought.
“His blood vessels are severely damaged, and his tendons and muscles are also greatly injured, so it’s correct to view his life as a martial artist as effectively over…”
This was the actual diagnosis from the physicians who had treated Jin Sohyun.
“Huu… to have to be satisfied with such a meager result… I was too late. I should have killed Jin Sohyun immediately!”
Mu Yu’s fist slammed down hard on the table.
The moment the name Jin Sohyun was engraved in his mind, he should have immediately mobilized all his forces to kill him.
Even if it meant burning down the entire Jin Clan estate.
A moment of doubt and hesitation had led to the loss of the Nameless Pavilion.
As a headache throbbed, Mu Yu massaged his temples.
“Order the Hao Sect to increase their surveillance on Jin Sohyun.”
“As you command.”
No sooner had Seolpyeong left the office than an Alliance warrior rushed in and said.
“Chief!”
“What is it?”
Mu Yu, whose head was already a complicated mess, answered with irritation, and the warrior bowed low.
“Ma Seongun has returned.”
“What!?”
Leaping up from his chair, Mu Yu’s heart pounded fiercely.
“Finally… Ma Seongun has returned!”
***
“Have you achieved all that you desired? It seems you have accomplished your goals to some extent.”
“I have.”
Standing before Ju Cheon, Ma Seongun knelt on one knee and nodded.
“A strange energy.”
The returned Ma Seongun exuded a completely different aura than before he left.
It was as if he had returned as a different person.
“No… it’s as if you have become a different person. I can feel energies of completely different natures from you. And not just one or two.”
‘Ju Cheon…’
Even in Ma Seongun’s memory, Ju Cheon was an exceptionally skilled martial artist.
The number one martial artist of the heretical path, Ju Cheon.
Just by facing him, he had discerned that Ma Seongun held the energies of numerous martial artists within his body.
As he said, the energies, experiences, and martial arts of the warriors Ma Seongun had killed were melted into his body.
It was as if dozens of martial artists existed within Ma Seongun’s body.
And now.
Ma Seongun had to struggle to control the desire that was surging up like an erupting volcano.
His right hand tried to draw the Bloodstone Sword, and Ma Seongun tried to stop it.
‘Stay still.’
The Blood Jade embedded in Ma Seongun’s body desired only one thing.
The blood of the Heretic Path's Alliance Leader, Ju Cheon.
“Haha!”
Ju Cheon stood before Ma Seongun.
“Why? Do you now covet my blood?”
“…”
Ma Seongun’s and Ju Cheon’s eyes locked.
Feeling an indescribable desire from his gaze, Ju Cheon revealed it with a laugh.
“When the time comes, I will gladly give you my blood. But not now.”
“…”
As Ma Seongun suppressed his avarice and bowed his head, Ju Cheon spread his hands briefly.
“Welcome home. Ma Seongun.”
***
Having returned, Ma Seongun set down the Bloodstone Sword and sat on the edge of his bed.
And before him lay the news related to Jin Sohyun.
Jin Sohyun, who had brought down the Nameless Pavilion single-handedly.
The rumors that he had been critically injured and could no longer live the life of a martial artist.
The corner of Ma Seongun’s mouth twitched.
“Kekekek… The likes of the Nameless Pavilion inflicted a critical wound on Jin Sohyun? Fools…!”
Ma Seongun didn’t believe such rumors.
In his memory, which remained like an afterimage.
Jin Sohyun was a colossal wave, the ocean itself.
Nothing could stop him, and no one could stand against him.
He was the greatest under heaven and the greatest of all time.
An irresistible existence.
Ma Seongun drew the Bloodstone Sword and took a deep breath.
His eyes radiated a bloody light.
The Blood Jade, implanted through the Gate Opening Ritual, glowed red within him.
“Come… for I am finally ready to face you.”
(End of Chapter)