Chapter 201

Chapter 201

Hyeolcheop, Jeok Ryuha always lived on a blade’s edge.

-You resemble me. Won’t you come with me?

After wandering back alleys living fiercely and being taken in by Daesageom, after entering as Daesageom’s disciple, Jeok Ryuha never once loosened the string of tension. Because he knew that what came easily into one’s hands could be easily lost.

It was the same even when his master Daesageom brought in a strange fellow claiming to be his martial younger brother. A fellow with poison in his eyes somewhere, but who actually seemed weak.

He thought there was no need to be overly tense since the fellow seemed weak, but nevertheless, he didn’t loosen the string of tension. Because there was no way his master’s eyes would have picked up a worthless piece of raw jade.

And that prediction wasn’t wrong. The newly entered sajae had exceedingly outstanding talent. How much fear did he feel watching his sajae fiercely chase after him, about to quickly catch up to him who was several years ahead?

-Sajeo. I have a question!

-Get lost.

-Aw, don’t be like that. This, how should I do this technique?

Despite his attitude of being wary and pushing the other away, his sajae stubbornly pushed his body inside Jeok Ryuha’s ‘wall.’

And Jeok Ryuha, while being wary of his sajae, inwardly acknowledged him. That if he was pushed back by this child in a match, it couldn’t be helped. That if it was this child, he could entrust his position above to him.

He thought that way.

Until he was betrayed.

“What are you doing now!”

At the roar striking his ears during his momentary hesitation, Jeok Ryuha came to his senses and captured in his eyes the figure of his former sajae showing his back. Seonwoo Gang facing the two Qingcheng priests with his sword while turning his back to him.

“What are you trying to do now, Seonwoo Gang?”

“I’m taking the side of the disadvantaged party.”

“Your side should be over there, shouldn’t it?”

“I’m on neither side.”

While momentarily flinching at the killing intent that unknowingly seeped out deeply yet not stopping it, Jeok Ryuha growled and asked, and Seonwoo Gang smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“Uicheonmun is a neutral territory sect, and inside here, whether Orthodox Path or Unorthodox Path, we’re all enemies to each other.”

“Aren’t you at a disadvantage?”

“Even without you, I could have broken through this level of difficulty.”

“If you had reached your original realm, that would be so. But right now you have neither inner power nor anything else. Against Nine Sects and One Gang martial artists in a two-on-one situation, it doesn’t seem like you could win without losses.”

“I’ll hel…….”

Kaaang-!!!

Without even listening to the answer, Jeok Ryuha who stepped forward swung his sword toward Seonwoo Gang. At that look, Seonwoo Gang parried the sword in great shock.

“What are you doing!”

“I don’t need a traitor’s help.”

“I’ll die alone even if I die. Even if I get my bracelet torn off here, it’s not like I’ll really die. So get lost.”

At Jeok Ryuha’s growling voice, Seonwoo Gang who stepped back swallowed his hum and properly gripped his sword. And watching that appearance in bewilderment, the Qingcheng priests opened their mouths.

“I don’t know what the situation is, but…… It seems the benefactor’s goodwill has been rejected.”

“……Unfortunately, it seems so.”

“Even now, how about changing your mind and taking our side? As I know it, the benefactor is no longer an Unorthodox Path person, correct? We’re also thinking of dividing the spoils three ways.”

“Well, after being coldly treated like this, I’d like to do that.”

At the Qingcheng priest’s words, Seonwoo Gang smiled bitterly and shook his head before continuing.

“My sajeo…… My former sajeo may look like that, but he’s tender-hearted, so if he really fought with me here, he’d probably be uncomfortable for a long time. As someone who was his sajae, shouldn’t I prevent that?”

“……You are benevolent.”

“Rather than benevolent, shouldn’t it be seen as having lingering affection? Hahaha.”

What nonsense is that?

At Seonwoo Gang’s appearance letting out an awkward laugh while raising his sword, Jeok Ryuha ground his teeth and aimed his sword at Seonwoo Gang. The following words.

“I’ve decided. I’ll kill you first.”

“……In case sajeo doesn’t know, killing is prohibited here.”

“If there are no witnesses, there are no murderers. I’ll kill you and kill these two guys here too. Won’t that work?”

“Setting aside that there would reasonably be observers…… Would that be possible?”

“Do you think it’s impossible?”

“It does seem impossible.”

“It will be possible.”

At Jeok Ryuha’s cold voice, Seonwoo Gang awkwardly scratched his head and raised his sword. And watching that appearance, the two Qingcheng priests quietly chanted their Buddhist invocation.

“Immeasurable Buddha. Since it seems you can’t reach an agreement, we’ll have to eliminate you both.”

“We won’t go down obediently.”

“It seemed like we could have a good relationship with the benefactor, but it’s regrettable. I hope we can exchange greetings once the Opening Gate ceremony ends.”

“You’re welcome anytime. Munjunim will also welcome you.”

Jeok Ryuha, who had been silently watching the conversation exchanged between the Qingcheng priest and Seonwoo Gang, ground his teeth. The attitude of the two ignoring him as if he were invisible.

‘They’re not even looking this way.’

They’re not being wary. As if they know he won’t attack, they show a leisurely appearance.

‘After betraying me…….’

How can he be so calm?

‘I will definitely…….’

I will definitely eliminate him.

Jeok Ryuha, drawing up the anger rising deeply from the bottom of his heart and sharpening his mind like a blade, aimed his sword tip at Seonwoo Gang. And.

“Die!”

Finally, the moment Jeok Ryuha moved to strike Seonwoo Gang.

“What, I thought I heard a familiar voice, and it’s Seonwoo Gang? What are you doing here?”

“……A new enemy!”

At the voice heard from behind, Jeok Ryuha sharply twisted his neck.

At the same time.

“? Who’s this person again?”

A heavy impact stole Jeok Ryuha’s consciousness.

Thud!

Meanwhile, at that time.

“……Huh?”

“Oh.”

Wang Pal, who had been collecting bracelets and raised his sword while turning around at a presence, blinked at a familiar face. The appearance of Baek Risan bursting out from the bushes with clothes completely dirty.

“You…… You’re Wang Pal, right? Not someone who looks similar, or used some kind of disguise technique?”

“That’s correct.”

“Looking at you not making a fuss and giving short answers, it is you. Whew. I survived.”

Baek Risan, who let out a deep sigh, frowned as if extremely tired and plopped down on the ground. Clear signs of hardship.

“Looking at that appearance, you seem to have started off well. How many points did you earn?”

“Up until now, I’ve earned about three thousand points.”

“……Three thousand points?”

“Yes. Of course, I’m still holding onto a thousand points that I can’t use yet.”

“I’m jealous. I only earned two hundred points.”

“Why do you look like you’re wondering how I only earned that much? I would have done something if I could just enter the shop. But what can I do when there are guys waiting on standby in front of the shop?”

“Waiting on standby…… You mean?”

“Yeah. I wandered around not knowing where the shop was, and when I finally arrived, people going into the shop to buy items were being completely caught and beaten.”

I was lucky to catch and beat someone who had a sword without inner power to somehow steal a sword, but I have no inner power. Right now, Baek Risan is just at the level of a woman who trained hard.

“If I could just get some inner power, I feel like I could snowball it.”

In that sense, do you have any spare Inner Power Pills?

At Baek Risan’s gaze subtly asking that, Wang Pal quietly shook his head. Wang Pal too had been tossing all Inner Power Pills into his mouth the moment he purchased them at the shop.

“How many people are in front of the shop? What’s their level?”

“What I saw was five people. Their level is nothing special. If it’s your level, you could handle them without difficulty, right? I could also take on one person to buy time.”

“Then, I’ll escort you to the shop first. It’s dangerous to wander around without inner power. I’ll also transfer some points to you.”

“Really? Then thanks.”

At Wang Pal’s words, Baek Risan’s face brightened as she walked ahead while glancing at Wang Pal. Then Wang Pal spoke up.

“The others.”

“……Hm?”

“I’m wondering if the others are okay. Since all their inner power disappeared.”

“They’ll be fine. You’re also doing well, Wang Pal.”

“To say this with my own mouth is awkward, but if inner power disappears…….”

“Ah.”

Baek Risan, looking at Wang Pal’s massive arms about as thick as her waist with only slight exaggeration, smiled bitterly and nodded. Certainly, if inner power disappeared, Wang Pal would obviously become the strongest.

“Well, but you don’t need to worry. Everyone will do well. I’m a bit worried about Seohwa, but she’s smart so she’ll do well.”

“I wonder if Munjunim will be okay.”

“……Are you seriously asking?”

“Even if it’s Munjunim, if he’s at a numerical disadvantage, wouldn’t it be difficult? People like me, Seohwa sajeo, and other sajaes have almost no grudges in the martial world, but I know Munjunim has quite a few.”

“That’s because you don’t know that bastard well.”

At Wang Pal’s premature worry, Baek Risan snorted and twirled her finger. The following remark.

“I don’t remember well since it was when I was young, but when that bastard was the Young Family Head of Baek Ri Sega.”

“Yes.”

“He was the Assembly Leader of Yongbongjihoe. That bastard was.”

“Ah, I’ve heard about that.”

The position held by the most outstanding among the notable Rising Stars of the Later Generation . The Assembly Leader of Yongbongjihoe.

Wang Pal, who had heard that Baek Riyun was that Assembly Leader, expressed agreement at Baek Risan’s words, and Baek Risan grinned.

“But Yongbongjihoe is actually something the Nine Sects and One Gang and Five Great Families take turns with. So there was a time when mid-tier sects and disciples of reclusive masters joined together to protest. Saying they should also be given positions. That this was an unfair treatment.”

If we clash head-on, we’ll lose. So let’s band together and respond.

The mid-tier sects did that. Actually, it was somewhat effective. Because it was a hot topic at the time that major sects were inevitably different from mid-tier sects since they drank elixirs like water from childhood.

“……What did he do? With Munjunim’s personality, he wouldn’t have just dismissed it and moved on.”

“He requested a martial competition.”

“……Isn’t that too aggressive? Suppressing with force.”

“But he didn’t just request it. That bastard restricted his own inner power. And he accepted the martial competition.”

“……Pardon?”

“While the opponents’ inner power wasn’t restricted.”

Not the same conditions. Much more disadvantageous conditions. The mid-tier sect disciples had inner power, and Baek Riyun fought without inner power.

Naturally, everyone predicted Baek Riyun’s defeat. Because it was impossible for an ordinary person without inner power to gain the upper hand against someone with inner power unless there was an overwhelming difference in capability. Because usually, elders of sects showed such techniques only when teaching their far junior disciples.

However, Baek Riyun defeated his opponents.

And five times consecutively at that.

“When the difference in swordsmanship capability is revealed so starkly, what can you do? The mid-tier sects that advocated for mid-tier sect quotas all shut their mouths.”

“That bastard was performing such bizarre acts even over ten years ago. Now it’ll be even more so, right? Even with just a millet grain’s worth of inner power, he’ll probably go around massacring. So you don’t need to worry about that part?”

“It was actually just for show. There’s no way I’d worry about Munjunim.”

“I’m realizing lately, you’re unexpectedly funny?”

“Thank you.”

Baek Risan chuckled at Wang Pal who answered bluntly and looked around, lowering her body. The shop that had gotten close at some point.

“We’re almost there. You see it?”

“Where do you mean?”

“That ridge over there. If you cross that ridge, you’ll probably see the guys hiding.”

The probability that five members of the same sect met this early is low. The opponents are probably from different sects but formed an alliance.

“They’re a ragtag bunch. You should be able to handle about five easily.”

After handling them, just enter the shop.

Baek Risan, slowly crossing the ridge while telling Wang Pal this. And.

“They must have accumulated quite a bit. Since they’ve been handling people all this time…….”

Next, the moment Baek Risan climbed onto the ridge.

Wang Pal, watching Baek Risan fall silent, quietly spoke.

“It doesn’t seem like five.”

Below the field of vision.

Martial artists were crouching and lying in ambush.

In numbers clearly exceeding ten.