Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Deep in an unnamed mountain.

—Rakshasa-nim. Martial artists have entered the village.

“……Martial artists.”

Yuknachal, who had been sitting cross-legged with eyes closed in meditation, frowned at the report from the hungry ghost.

“Martial artists at this time when the grand plan is right before us. What are they doing here?”

—They’re mixed with Gyoryongpa personnel and people we’re seeing for the first time. Judging by their age, they might be rising stars of the later generation…….

“Rising stars of the later generation.”

Yuknachal, quietly half-opening his eyes, murmured softly. Rising stars of the later generation. They didn’t call just any young martial artists that.

“Their level must be quite decent.”

The term “rising stars of the later generation” might seem common at first glance, but it’s not a title given to just anyone. Would there have been a time when those pompous nobodies like Seoho Three Swords or Supreme Invincible Spear were called rising stars of the later generation?

There’s no way. The term “rising stars of the later generation” is ultimately used for those who have even a hair’s breadth of possibility to lead the martial world in the future.

And for that reason, rising stars of the later generation rarely arise naturally.

It’s natural for outstanding disciples to emerge from prestigious sects.

“Have you identified their affiliated sect?”

—We’re investigating but not yet. Judging by their stable and refined energy waves, they might be from an orthodox sect…….

“Your knowledge is narrow. How base.”

—I apologize.

“Enough. What use is asking?”

Yuknachal, frowning, waved his hand.

“Leave them be.”

—Won’t they become obstacles to the grand plan?

“Didn’t you say they’re rising stars of the later generation? Nobodies won’t be able to stop it at this point anyway.”

The framework of the grand plan is to create the environment and not interfere.

Unless a highly renowned expert from the martial world arrives, since there’s no interference, the rising stars of the later generation won’t notice him and the hungry ghosts. Why create unnecessary trouble when it will naturally be achieved just by waiting?

“Five years to find a suitable ‘seed.’ And another five years to cultivate the seed.”

“It’s been ten years since reading the flow of heavenly energy and preparing the grand plan. Achievement is not far off.”

Heavenly energy is the will of the world.

The heavenly energy is flowing toward the grand plan. That also means the world is wishing for the grand plan’s success.

To twist the grand plan in a new direction with human power at this point?

That’s impossible. Even if the Ten Heavens of the martial world arrived here, not just rising stars of the later generation.

“The grand plan will succeed.”

—Then…….

“Leave them be for now. They’ll help the seed germinate. However.”

Even if this plan succeeds, it’s ultimately just a minuscule beginning compared to the entire grand plan.

“It would be good to eliminate future troubles.”

The deluded should fall like dust without even being able to resist.

“The moment I sever the beginning of the grand plan, I shall personally take their lives.”

Yuknachal, breathing softly, closed his eyes again.

“Soon. Soon…….”

Feeling the demonic energy surging around him with his skin.

“Brothers. Sisters. Didn’t I tell you I’m amazing at cooking?”

“Let me show you. Our inn’s pride—roasted wild boar!”

Baek Risan, who had been looking at the dish Choil energetically brought out with coldly subdued eyes, gave Choil a look seeking explanation. Then Choil scratched his head sheepishly.

“This is the only dish I know how to make.”

“The inn owner slash head chef slash servant only knows how to make roasted wild boar……?”

“If spices came in, I could try something else, but there are no spices here. Hehe.”

“Well, I’m not complaining, but.”

Baek Risan, licking his lips to moisten them, blinked with a lukewarm expression. Because it was different from what he’d expected.

“Don’t complain about the side dishes. Baek Risan.”

“Who’s complaining about side dishes! It’s just kind of something, so that’s why. I’ll eat well……anyway.”

“Anyway?”

“The Village Chief doesn’t seem like he’ll say more, and we should proceed with inquiries—what do we do now?”

“Hmm.”

At Baek Risan’s question, those who had been tearing large chunks of meat with chopsticks and bringing them to themselves let out murmurs. Because nothing was clicking.

“How about asking the village people one by one? Since there are many people, if we go around asking, won’t something come out?”

“That will probably be difficult.”

“Hm?”

Choil, who immediately interjected at Seonwoo Gang’s opinion, shook his head.

“You’ve only seen me and the Village Chief, so you might not know yet, but the people of this village detest outsiders. The Village Chief responding somewhat softly was actually gentle treatment. They probably won’t even try to talk to you.”

“That much?”

“Yes. It can’t be helped. They’re people who drifted in after being pushed around outside.”

To ordinary commoners, martial artists are objects of awe and simultaneously objects of fear. Those with their own ideas set wouldn’t bother getting involved.

“Moreover, at night they try even harder not to leave their houses. Inquiries won’t be easy. Probably.”

“Hmm……then what do we do?”

Seohwa, who had been watching Seonwoo Gang murmur at Choil’s words for a moment, fell into quiet contemplation. And a conclusion quickly reached.

“Fellow disciples. Let’s divide into groups.”

“Groups……you mean?”

“Yes. Since there will be difficulties with inquiries. We should do what we can now.”

Even if it’s a village with over two hundred households, there won’t be many people wandering around at night.

Seohwa and Wangpal, Baek Risan, Seomun Cheok, Seonwoo Gang. And two former bandit servants and five Gyoryongpa escort personnel including Jinwoong.

Having all the personnel exceeding ten people cling to inquiries is inefficient. Inquiries don’t take that long, and wouldn’t two people be enough?

“Seonwoo Gang fellow disciple, take Guest Baek Risan and meet the village people. Both of you have good impressions, so it’ll be easy to get answers.”

“……I understand about Fourth Sister, but this guy has a good impression?”

“Beauties naturally have good first impressions as long as they don’t have vicious faces. It’s easy to gain favor.”

“Ah…….”

Turning her gaze at Seonwoo Gang’s understanding, Seohwa spoke again.

“Prospective Fellow Disciple Seomun Cheok and Branch Master Jinwoong, please go around the surroundings and look for anything suspicious. Since both of you have excellent martial world knowledge, if there’s anything strange, you’ll find it quickly.”

“That’s not difficult.”

“Everyone except Fellow Disciple Wangpal, please go around the village outskirts and look for any peculiarities. Seeing how confident they are that demons can’t enter, there must be something.”

“Understood!”

“And lastly, Fellow Disciple Wangpal.”

Seohwa, who had paused, continued while glancing at Choil.

“Fellow disciple, you’ll come with me to meet Choil’s younger sibling.”

“My younger sibling?”

“Yes. That was the promise.”

While Choil said there was nothing more he could tell them, the promise to guide them to the village had already been kept.

To take Choil’s younger sibling when leaving, they needed to meet Choil’s sibling at least once. They couldn’t take someone they didn’t even know the face of.

“That’s okay, right?”

“……Well, I’m fine.”

At Seohwa’s question, Choil, who shrugged his shoulders, looked at the group finishing their meals roughly and wore a somewhat awkward smile. Eyes sinking down as if worrying about something.

“I’ll guide you right away.”

Watching Choil leave outside the inn, Seohwa stared intently at Choil’s back at the strange sensation like arms embracing her shoulders.

Something.

Something didn’t feel right.

Anhwa County. Gyoryongpa Main Sect.

“……So then.”

Despite returning urgently, when I asked about the whereabouts of the disciples who weren’t visible, a Gyoryongpa disciple bowed his head and informed me of their whereabouts.

“They said they’d go check the slash-and-burn village and haven’t returned.”

“Yes. They left with Senior Brother. Won’t they return tomorrow morning? They seem to still be investigating.”

Investigating.

It’s not strange. Originally, investigations often take more than a day, two days, three days, and it’s not uncommon to sleep outdoors or resolve lodging outside.

Anyone would say it’s needless worry to be concerned just because they haven’t returned for one day. What could happen in one day?

‘The red energy……doesn’t disappear.’

My vision is red.

Even the face of the Gyoryongpa disciple speaking right before my eyes looks red to me. Front, back, left, right—everywhere I look, only crimson.

I’m not in danger. Unless a Ten Heavens-level supreme expert suddenly arrives here out of context and tries to kill me, I won’t face danger.

And such contextless things don’t happen often in the world. Then what is this red energy warning about?

That too is simple.

It’s warning of my disciples’ danger.

“Which way?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked which way they headed from the stronghold.”

“Umm…….”

At my unusually hardened complexion, the Gyoryongpa disciple, who had been answering with a smiling face seemingly recognizing the seriousness of the situation, recalled the memory for a moment and nodded.

“Let’s see, since the sun rises and sets in the east……probably they went southeast.”

“I understand.”

Kwang!

As soon as I heard the disciples’ destination, I kicked off the ground and deployed lightness technique to the extreme. The scenery pushed back in a straight line.

Can I break through this situation?

While deploying lightness technique, I endlessly turned my mind. In a situation where I still don’t know exactly why danger is approaching or how to respond.

I must find a way out in this situation. By any means necessary.

“Here it is.”

As soon as I arrived at the stronghold, I confirmed the traces heading southeast and was about to deploy my lightness technique again when I suddenly stopped. A strange sensation caught in my extended sixth sense.

“Demonic energy……?”

There’s nothing wrong with what’s visible on the surface. The vegetation is green and the night is dark. The stream flows clear and the wind is cool.

My senses are indicating. The forest ahead is different from an ordinary mortal realm forest. What’s visible isn’t everything.

See the truth.

Looking at the forest even more blood-colored than the entirely crimson world, I clenched my fist tightly. A situation with no choice.

No matter how much my senses warn, it doesn’t matter.

I must enter. Because I left my everything in there. Whether what lies ahead is red energy, demons, or even if the Ten Heavens try to block my path.

I cannot retreat.

“Huuu.”

Slowly.

Hardening my resolve, I drew up my internal energy. By my estimation, from now on it will be a race against time.

If I’m late, the probability of problems with my disciples’ safety is high. Perhaps I’m already late, but to prevent additional damage, I must move as quickly as possible.

Right now.

Pajijijik!

From Taechung to Gokcheon, riding Myeongmun to Baekhoe.

Lightning penetrates from the tip of my feet to the top of my head. Applying internal energy circulation used for footwork techniques to lightness technique. What’s needed is explosive speed. Power to take me to where I want right now.

While swallowing the severe pain flowing through my blood paths, I gathered strength in my toes for propulsion.

Just as I was about to kick off the ground.

[A massive karma has taken shape.]

[Past karma is being connected.]

At the thread-like golden energy that suddenly appeared before my eyes, I stopped my steps.

Below my vision was a letter.

[To Baek Riyun Personally]

Half-buried in the ground.

Covered in dust, a letter in familiar handwriting.

[Sender: Baek Riseon]