Chapter 136

Chapter 136

What is the way for a minor unorthodox sect to survive?

There would be countless methods, but Cheon Ryeomyeong, the Manor Lord of Hyeoleung Manor, believed it was reading the room.

Yiyang to the right, Shangde above.

Hyeoleung Manor had nested in Dogang County, which was sandwiched between these two massive cities. In Shangde, a notorious unorthodox sect with quite a reputation in the vicinity was spreading its infamy, while in neighboring Yiyang, an orthodox sect of similar scale was spreading its prestige.

Hyeoleung Manor had decent numbers, but their martial arts level was nothing special.

For a minor unorthodox sect like Hyeoleung Manor to survive, they shouldn’t rashly step forward even in Dogang County. They could only survive by turning their eyes elsewhere.

Cheon Ryeomyeong made that judgment and acted accordingly. Extending their influence to Anhwa County, located nearby but in a remote area where the eyes of major sects didn’t reach, was part of that plan.

To avoid trouble, one must be careful. Living long and thin is better than living short and thick. As they say, enduring hardships with patience—if you overcome difficulties, even a mouse hole will see the sun someday.

…Surely.

That should have been the case.

“Are you the Hyeoleung Manor Lord?”

Hyeoleung Manor headquarters.

Cheon Ryeomyeong’s eyes trembled thinly as he looked at the signboard shattered into eight pieces, fluttering like paper. His eyes grew moist.

‘I just had it made not long ago.’

It was a signboard he’d begged someone in Shangde to make, since there were few people in the vicinity skilled in calligraphy.

Just yesterday he was pleased, thinking the magnificent calligraphy would add wings to Hyeoleung Manor’s prestige, but now it had become useless even as firewood for the furnace.

“Answer.”

Thinking about the money spent on making the signboard, Cheon Ryeomyeong dabbed at his moistened eyes with his sleeve, cleared his throat, and straightened his clothes.

“……I am the Hyeoleung Manor Lord. And you are…….”

“Uicheonmun Master.”

“I don’t know where this Uicheonmun sect I’ve never heard of is from……. Ui, Uicheonmun?”

Cheon Ryeomyeong, who had been speaking, stuttered momentarily at the name that flashed through his mind. In the Hunan region recently, there had been a name that was faintly being heard.

“If it’s Uicheonmun, could you be that person from the Murim Alliance…….”

“It’s likely what you’re thinking.”

“Heo-eob.”

Former Changcheon Corps Commander.

Cheon Ryeomyeong let out a gasp at his opponent’s shocking identity and naturally hunched his back.

“Ui, Uicheonmun Master, what brings you here…….”

“The elder who left hasn’t arrived yet, it seems. I thought he would have arrived by now.”

“Elder?”

“Anhwa County. Do you understand if I put it that way?”

Cheon Ryeomyeong thought for a moment about what Baek Riyun’s answer meant, then came to a conclusion and straightened his hunched back. His eye level rose.

“……I see. Elder Lee was at Gyoryongpa. Were you commissioned by them?”

“No, precisely speaking, Gyoryongpa became a branch sect of our sect.”

“An unorthodox sect becoming a branch of an orthodox sect?”

“It’s now neutral ground. There’s nothing to be concerned about, is there?”

“Hehe. What a ridiculous thing to say. One’s roots don’t just disappear.”

Cheon Ryeomyeong let out a chilling laugh and lowered his hands, extending his nails from within his sleeves.

“If Gyoryongpa became a branch sect of Uicheonmun, the reason for coming here is clear. Withdraw your hands from Anhwa County—isn’t that what you’re saying?”

“Precisely.”

“Do you think that makes sense? Anhwa County has been this manor’s territory for ten years. You expect us to just watch as it’s taken away?”

“That’s right.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Watching Baek Riyun calmly nod his head, Cheon Ryeomyeong burst into wild laughter and subtly turned his gaze.

“How arrogant. How arrogant. I heard the former Changcheon Corps Commander’s temperament was unusual, but to think you’d storm into our manor alone like this.”

“I didn’t storm in. I merely came to give a warning.”

“Isn’t that the same thing? If Uicheonmun gives a warning, should Hyeoleung Manor bow down saying ‘Yes, understood’?”

Cheok!

Having finished speaking, Cheon Ryeomyeong gestured with his eyes for his subordinates to surround Baek Riyun and continued.

“Your courage in coming alone is admirable, but ultimately it’s recklessness. Even if you’re the Martial Force Commander, do you think you can survive here after splitting our sect’s signboard?”

“A signboard can just be reattached. The core of a sect is its members, and none of your manor’s disciples have been harmed, so isn’t it meaningless overinterpretation?”

“It’s too late. Whatever honeyed words you use to try to deceive me, it’s over now!”

Cheon Ryeomyeong giggled and drew out his claw energy using the poison martial art Hyeoleung Claw Technique. The declaration that followed.

“No matter how strong you are, can you handle the combined attacks of our manor’s Five Great Elders and myself!”

“Five Great Elders—certainly quite a number.”

“That’s right. As they say, there’s no match for numbers, so now you……!”

“Hmm.”

At Cheon Ryeomyeong’s words, Baek Riyun stroked his chin while looking around and nodded.

“I should reduce them a bit.”

In an instant.

Pajijijik—!!!!!

Lightning flashed.

Cheon Ryeomyeong, who had been threatening Baek Riyun with both hands raised, claw energy hanging from them in visible form, looked around blankly. The four elders who had definitely been surrounding Baek Riyun were all lying on the ground in an instant.

“Now it’s just the First Elder. What will you do? Will you continue?”

Baek Riyun, who hadn’t even drawn his sword and was dusting off his hands, looked calmly at Cheon Ryeomyeong.

“Or shall we wait until the one elder who hasn’t returned yet arrives?”

Seureung!

At the sight of Baek Riyun subtly drawing his sword, Cheon Ryeomyeong rolled his eyes while wiggling his fingers for a moment, then raised his hand high threateningly. And then.

The next moment.

“I welcome the distinguished guest’s visit to our manor!”

Cheon Ryeomyeong bowed deeply.

Repeating to himself that living long and thin was indeed the best.

The boy who had been hiding in a box and was discovered was younger than Seohwa expected, and at the same time, cheerful.

“So your name is what?”

“Choil. Beggar-born Choil.”

“Not Choi or Choiham, but Choil?”

“I have no older or younger siblings, so I’m alone as Choil. Great Heroes. It’s a decent name, right?”

“Hmm, I haven’t seen your face before.”

“Ah. I’m not from the village below.”

At Choil’s banter toward Jinwoong, Seohwa observed Choil carefully then shook her head. Roughly thirteen to fifteen years old. While he had some muscle on his body, there were no traces of having learned martial arts.

Well, that wasn’t really the important thing. Whether Choil was a martial artist who learned martial arts or just an ordinary commoner, at that young age he didn’t look like the culprit of the disappearance cases. You could tell just by looking at the utensils in his hands.

“Even if people disappeared, theft isn’t good.”

“Theft?”

“I mean what you’re holding in your hand.”

At Seohwa’s point, Choil, who had been subtly putting tableware lying beside him into his clothes and flinched, scratched his head sheepishly. The shameless response that followed.

“The tableware at home is all worn out, so I was going to replace it with this opportunity but…… Please forgive me. Pretty lady.”

“There’s nothing to forgive. We’re not the owners of this mountain stronghold.”

“Then, can I take…….”

“But that’s a separate matter. Those are pieces of evidence.”

“Evidence?”

“Yes.”

Seohwa affirmed and opened her mouth again.

“It would be hard for someone your age to come here alone, so you live nearby, right?”

“Yes. Well.”

“Do you know when the bandits living here disappeared?”

“Umm, exactly…….”

“Even roughly is fine.”

“I know roughly!”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Choil nodded and spread his fingers wide to count the period. Opening all ten fingers, then folding them one by one.

“Let’s see, it’s been more than half a year, one year……? It seems like more than a year. Roughly two years.”

“You’re lying.”

At Choil’s words, Seomun Cheok frowned and shook his head.

“If two years had passed, there’s no way rotten food would remain. It would be normal for dust to be piled up on the signboard and tables. But there’s nothing here right now, is there?”

“Young Hero is right. Besides, even a year ago there were people who had their bundles stolen by bandits in the moonlight.”

Rotten food, intact tableware, and even people who had their belongings stolen.

If the bandits had disappeared two years ago, the story wouldn’t make sense. Houses without management quickly become ruins, rotten food would all decay within a month leaving nothing, and without bandits to rob, there would be no travelers to be robbed.

“Tell the truth. If you insist on lying, we’ll have no choice but to consider you involved in these disappearance cases.”

Chalsak!

“Why are you intimidating the kid? We haven’t even heard the whole story yet.”

“Isn’t he lying?”

“It might not be a lie. There’s no reason for him to lie anyway.”

Seohwa slapped the arm of Seomun Cheok, who was looking at Choil with fierce momentum and a sharp gaze, and stood in front of Seomun Cheok, looking intently at Choil.

“Choil. The others are right that there are contradictions in your words. But I don’t think you’re lying. Do you know anything about that part?”

“……Umm. I’m not supposed to say that.”

Not supposed to say. Meaning he does know.

At Choil’s words as he pondered, Seohwa and Seonwoo Gang exchanged glances and subtly approached Choil. The persuasion that followed.

“There are many innocent missing people. Choil.”

“At this rate, people might continue to disappear. Our sect isn’t an orthodox sect, but since we pursue righteousness, we can’t just stand by.”

“Seohwa Fourth Sister is right. You live in this area too, so wouldn’t it be good if it’s resolved quickly? Your brothers and sisters will solve it for you.”

“Isn’t this like poking a quiet beehive, making trouble where there was none?”

“That’s fine too. Our Sect Master is an incredibly skilled expert! He can catch and kill any swarm of bees that comes out.”

At Seonwoo Gang’s bold declaration, Choil frowned as if pondering for a moment, rolling the hidden tableware in his hand with a clatter. And then.

“There’s a condition.”

Shortly after.

Choil’s eyes, having decided on something, sparkled with light.

“Condition?”

“Yes. A condition. If this isn’t accepted, I won’t talk.”

“……Let’s hear what this condition is first.”

“Urk.”

At the sight of Seomun Cheok stepping forward heavily, Choil glanced at Seomun Cheok timidly as if scared and raised two fingers.

“The first is to look at my martial arts. I’m learning martial arts too.”

“……Martial arts? Are you asking us to teach you Uicheonmun’s martial arts?”

“No. Teaching martial arts to outsiders is taboo, isn’t it? I know that much. You just need to give me advice on the martial arts I’m learning. I need self-defense techniques when I go outside.”

“If that’s all.”

At best it would be Taiji Fist or breathing techniques that Wudang Sect simplified and released to the market. Looking at the lack of proper traces of learning martial arts, it was certain.

Having made his judgment, Seomun Cheok nodded.

“Let’s hear the second condition.”

“The second condition might be simpler than the first.”

“Simple?”

At Seomun Cheok’s question, Choil grinned, rubbed his nose, and poked himself with his thumb as he answered.

“Help me and my younger sibling leave our village.”

“……That sounds like you’re being prevented from leaving.”

“Yes. It’s a closed-off village.”

Hmm.

Seomun Cheok, having assessed the situation briefly, looked at Seohwa as if leaving the judgment to her. And at those words, Seohwa nodded.

“If you and your sibling aren’t fleeing after committing crimes, we’ll cooperate.”

“Does taking tableware from here count as a crime?”

“We’ll overlook that.”

“Then it’s fine. Hehe.”

Choil smiled slightly and looked around, then hunched his shoulders and lowered his voice. As if it would be serious trouble if someone heard.

“I don’t remember well since it was when I was young, but originally our village didn’t have any particular rules. Don’t go too far to gather wood or hunt because it’s dangerous—that’s the kind of talk I heard.”

“Heard.”

“But five years ago, one rule was created.”

“A rule.”

“Never go outside the village at night.”

If you go out, if you see something.

Choil paused and closed his mouth tight. And then.

“You can’t return from the feast of a hundred demons.”

Everyone fell silent at the following words.

“At night, this area transforms into the demons’ domain.”

In other words.

It meant the place they were standing was practically a demon realm.