Chapter 296

Chapter 296

Changing locations, near Huayong County.

“It’s peaceful.”

“…….”

“Does a sect need to exist in a place like this? There are many major sects around, and it seems like a place that doesn’t need a sect.”

“Please just shut up.”

“I’ll shut up.”

“……Tsk.”

At the sight of Namgung Hyeon chattering away, Baek Risan suppressed him with a single glance, and Seonwoo Gang wore a bitter smile and tilted his head.

‘She’s gotten much better.’

Unlike her appearance just days ago when she had those rotten pollack eyes, Baek Risan’s appearance had clearly regained its light.

—Seonwoo Gang. I’m going back to Huayong County. You come too.

—What?

It was when Baek Risan heard the news that she had been detained after fighting with Namgung Hyeon and rushed over in a hurry.

Expecting her condition to have worsened, he rushed over frantically, only to hear the words that she was returning to Huayong County. Naturally, he checked if her condition had worsened further, but…….

—Why are you looking so intently?

—Huh?

—Prepare what needs to be prepared in advance. I’m detained so I can’t do anything.

—Oh, okay…….

—I’m asking you. Seonwoo Gang.

Eventually, watching Baek Risan speak to him casually, Seonwoo Gang gained a certain conviction.

That Baek Risan had regained some kind of hope.

That Baek Risan’s dramatic change began from there.

“We’ll arrive soon. Is there anywhere you want to stop by?”

“We should just go directly, shouldn’t we?”

“When we were away, Haun Trading Company agreed to take charge of managing Uicheon Manor, so maybe going there first…….”

“No.”

Immediately denying Seonwoo Gang’s words, Baek Risan looked toward where Uicheon Sect was with strangely shining eyes while gripping the Uicheon Sword tightly.

“Let’s go directly. There’s something I need to check.”

“If there’s something to check…….”

“I need to check if he’s alive or dead first.”

“Huh?”

“Follow me.”

Without properly explaining and taking the lead in deploying Lightness Art, at the sight of Baek Risan, Namgung Hyeon and Seonwoo Gang exchanged glances and quietly followed behind Baek Risan. Passing the village entrance and entering a familiar road, the scenery unfolded.

‘It has to be right.’

Biting her lip, Baek Risan led the way with wide eyes. The guess that had crossed her mind several days ago.

It was perhaps the expectation that Baekri Un might be alive, or might be able to come back to life.

‘If my guess is correct, Uicheon Sect should still be open.’

Divine Artifacts choose their masters. Just because the master died doesn’t mean they immediately go to another master.

Then the probability that just because she inherited the Uicheon Sword from Baekri Un, the authority of Uicheon Manor came to her is almost nonexistent. Human bloodlines don’t extend their influence to Divine Artifacts.

‘Please.’

Be open. Please.

Passing by the familiar road, familiar training grounds, familiar scenery, Baek Risan quietly prayed. Please let her speculation be correct.

And.

“……Ah.”

The moment Baek Risan reached the hilltop and saw Uicheon Manor wide open.

[Confirming entry of temporary authority delegate.]

[Opening Uicheon Manor’s status window.]

A semi-transparent window.

“Uh……?”

Filled her field of view.

『Uicheon Sect

A newly risen sect located in Huayong, Hubei.

The disciples have increased considerably, but fame has decreased due to two years of seclusion.

Fame has increased significantly due to activities at the Great Seal. Also, the Sect Leader is absent for some reason.

Sect Leader: Baekri Un. Temporary Delegate: Baek Risan

Purpose: Martial Sect

Manor Grade: 6th grade

Cleanliness: 3rd grade

Scale: 6th grade

Fame: 5th grade

Number of Disciples: 7

Martial Power Grade: 8th grade

Sect Leader’s Level: ■ grade

Completed Research: Recovery. Artifact Transformation. Spirit Energy Concentration. Growth Acceleration.

Overall Evaluation: 6th grade

Possessed Essence: 470

Income Source: Jiaolong Sect.

Medical Hall has been opened.

Library Pavilion and Martial Hall have been opened.

Dharma Protector Hall has not been opened.

Elder Hall has not been opened.

Outer Hall and Inner Hall division has not been implemented.

Secret Pavilion does not exist.

Martial Corps does not exist.

Factions have been divided.

Seven possible research projects exist.

To unlock other research or facilities, you must raise the manor to 5th grade.』

“Baek Risan?”

“What is… this……?”

At the sight of Baek Risan suddenly stopping frozen as soon as she entered through the gate, everyone blinked. However, paying no attention and frantically reading through the status window, Baek Risan.

‘He’s alive.’

What is suspended animation?

Fake death. It means appearing to be dead but not actually being dead.

Usually, when talking about unconsciousness, it’s often called a suspended animation state, but that’s probably not the case here. Because Baek Risan had seen with her own eyes that Baekri Un’s body had completely met death.

Then what can be considered?

‘He’s alive…… he’s alive……’

It’s simple.

It means he used some method to move only his consciousness somewhere.

Therefore, death is not yet confirmed.

Teolsseok!

“Ba-Baek Risan!”

At the sight of Baek Risan, whose legs gave out without her realizing it and sat down on the spot, Namgung Hyeon hurriedly approached and supported Baek Risan.

“What’s wrong!”

“He’s alive…… he was alive all along!”

“What’s alive…….”

“Oppa!”

Shedding tears in streams, Baek Risan couldn’t stop crying yet burst into laughter, and Seonwoo Gang, who had been watching Baek Risan with a puzzled expression, suddenly opened his eyes wide as if realizing something.

“You, don’t tell me…….”

“…….”

“The Sect Leader isn’t dead……?”

“Yeah. You idiot!”

Wiping away the flowing tears, Baek Risan wore a triumphant expression while gripping her waist.

“That bastard is still alive somewhere!”

“…….”

“I don’t know where though!”

Does it matter where he’s alive?

What matters is the fact that he’s alive. If he’s not already dead and can’t be seen but is on the verge of death, isn’t there at least a possibility of somehow reviving him?

“……I don’t understand what you’re saying at all.”

“Mm? Ah. You wouldn’t know.”

Finally realizing that Namgung Hyeon didn’t know about Uicheon Manor as Namgung Hyeon tilted his head with a blank expression, Seonwoo Gang chuckled and began explaining.

“This Uicheon Manor is a Divine Artifact as a whole.”

“……?”

“The master is the Sect Leader. You understand what that means, right?”

“……Since the manor is intact, the master must also be alive?”

“Correct. Well, the details would be known by Baek Risan, but…….”

“…….”

“She doesn’t seem in a state to answer right now.”

At the sight of Baek Risan frantically reading through the status window with no time to spare, Seonwoo Gang wore a bitter smile and nodded before casually approaching Baek Risan.

“So did you find out anything?”

“Be quiet. I’m reading right now.”

Cleanliness, research, Sect Leader’s level, overall evaluation…….

These things aren’t important. What’s needed now is things like where Baekri Un is, what he’s doing.

‘Facilities? No.’

Expanding facilities isn’t necessary either.

‘Manor expansion…… this isn’t it either.’

Something that can find traces of Baekri Un.

For a moment.

Pushing away and rummaging through the floating status windows while searching for what she wanted, Baek Risan stopped frozen. And the quiet voice that emerged.

“……I found it.”

“Mm? What.”

“Where this bastard is.”

Smiling slightly, Baek Risan turned around and opened her mouth.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Where else?”

Isn’t that obvious?

At Seonwoo Gang’s question, Baek Risan raised the corners of her mouth and looked at the semi-transparent window hanging at the edge of her vision. The small letters written inside.

[List of Requests in Progress]

[Yunnan Protection]

Since establishing Uicheon Sect.

Baekri Un had never been to Yunnan. That fact is known by Seonwoo Gang, who is a Uicheon Sect member, and herself, who received teachings for two years.

Yet for such a request to have come means one thing.

“Yunnan.”

Baekri Un is in Yunnan.

“We’re going there.”

***

Yunnan. Near the border village.

“……Mm. Such unilateral action is troublesome. Uicheon Sect Leader.”

“Unilateral action.”

The prey decreased.

At the sight of Baekri Un returning alone, Muhyeong, who unconsciously evaluated it that way, voiced a small complaint, and Baekri Un, wearing a refreshing smile, quietly looked at Muhyeong.

“Didn’t I say? We were granted independent operational authority from the Murim Alliance.”

“…….”

“We don’t belong to your unit, so there’s no particular reason to call it unilateral. We’re just acting according to our own operation. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s true, but.”

“Then there’s no problem.”

“……Hmm.”

How did it turn out that way?

Casually deflecting his words and making him shut his mouth, Muhyeong looked at Baekri Un and stroked his chin. Though there were other things to refute, it actually didn’t matter much.

‘The most necessary prey from that group was Baekri Un.’

Uicheon Sect Leader Baekri Un, a strong martial artist whose martial power alone might rival the Ten Celestials.

According to rumors heard, there’s a story that he cooperated with Sword Empress to defeat Sword King Namgung Hyeok who had fallen into Qi Deviation. Considering how formidable Sword King’s level was, no matter how much Sword Empress is a current Ten Celestials, defeating Sword King without damage is an absurd story.

‘What made that possible was Uicheon Sect Leader Baekri Un.’

At the very least, right below the Ten Celestials…… he’s at the level of a Nine Great Sects and One Great Association Sect Leader. Going further, he might even be comparable to the Ten Celestials.

‘Adding him to the collection would be very helpful……’

It doesn’t matter if everyone else runs away. As long as Baekri Un doesn’t run away, that’s enough.

“……Well, that’s fine.”

Having organized his thoughts, Muhyeong wore a thick smile.

“We’re planning to just investigate the village then return anyway. You’ll join up after that?”

“If the investigation makes progress, I’ll join up.”

“May I know what you went to investigate?”

“Nothing much. I just went to investigate what kind of demon annihilated the Five Swords and Changcheon Corps.”

“Is that so…….”

The border village has quite closed-off terrain.

Once he reaches it, preventing Baekri Un from escaping and capturing him won’t be difficult. Among his ‘collection’ are absolute masters from previous generations, so he can handle Baekri Un without difficulty.

‘I’ll put Baekri Un into the collection first, then make the rest into collections as they come.’

Make them all into collections like that, then return to Dali and devour all the humans there—that’s the end.

With a dark sinister scheme in his heart, Muhyeong sneered and moved his steps. And in that moment, Baekri Un spoke quietly.

“By any chance, Sect Leader Yubaek, do you know about the Seven Great Demons?”

“……The Seven Great Demons?”

“That’s right.”

Why does that name come up now?

“It’s not something I know about…….”

“That would be right. The Seven Great Demons isn’t a human classification but a demon classification.”

Chuckling, Baekri Un quietly continued.

“Among demons, it seems they pick the seven strongest among them and call them that. The Seven Great Demons.”

“……Yes.”

“From what I heard, many have bizarre abilities. I suppose that’s because they’re demons.”

While there are demons that can summon night despite the sun being up, there are demons that instill a sense of submission just by being looked at. There are demons that poured everything into combat power, and there are even demons that were once human.

“And among them, the strangest was this demon.”

“……What was it?”

“A demon that eats humans and imitates the humans it ate.”

Smiling broadly while looking at himself, at the sight of Baekri Un, Muhyeong looked at Baekri Un with an expressionless face.

“……When did you figure it out?”

“I suspected even before meeting you. Because I heard about you from Toehui.”

“Toehui, is that bitch around here?”

“Who knows.”

Watching Baekri Un chuckle and shrug, Muhyeong quietly stepped back and stomped its foot. Simultaneously, numerous human shadows rising from the ground.

“Uicheon Sect Leader Baekri Un. You shouldn’t have said that. Then you could have lived a bit longer.”

“…….”

“Do you think you can escape from here?”

“Of course I can escape.”

“What a laughable thing.”

Slowly.

Muhyeong’s ‘collections’ surrounding Baekri Un drew their weapons. Muhyeong’s weapons that lost their reason but perfectly display their martial power from life.

“Your arrogance strangled your lifeline.”

One step.

The collections that stepped forward simultaneously spewed Sword Qi and moved toward Baekri Un. Baekri Un who still wasn’t taking a defensive stance. And.

“Die.”

Swaeeaeaek!

The moment everyone’s Sword Qi pierced Baekri Un’s body.

Baekri Un’s body.

“Peekaboo.”

Became hazy.

“……Yo-you bastard. What is this…….”

—Ah, the mystical art is wearing off soon.

Smiling broadly, Baekri Un floated up into the sky, moving his ghost-like legs. And Baekri Un continuing his words.

—Do I still look alive to you?

“…….”

—If you can kill me, try killing me. I don’t know if there’s a way to kill an already dead person twice though. Hahahaha.

Along with his words, Baekri Un flew into the sky and disappeared, and Muhyeong, who had been blankly watching, clenched its fist. A sense of crisis suddenly rising.

“Chase him……!”

I must catch him.

“I must catch that bastard!”

Before he reaches Dali, by all means.