Chapter 125

Tik.

Upon answering the call, I got straight to the point without delay.

“What’s going on?”

[Um, well, you see…]

Cheong Joohwa’s voice was trembling uncharacteristically, clearly steeped in considerable anxiety.

“…Don’t panic. Calm down and tell me.”

[Something feels really off. For the past few days, exorcists from the family have been lurking around my house, and now… it seems like they’re trying to take me away for some reason…]

“Where are you now?”

[I managed to slip out of the house and am hiding for now. It’s in the mountains along the path I walked all night when returning to the academy last time.]

“Don’t move recklessly. Stay put and monitor the situation from there.”

It seems the Cheong Doyool faction is moving faster than expected. They appear prepared for friction with Cheong Soha from the very start.

‘…As expected, that’s how they’re playing it.’

Judging by the general flow of things, it seems Cheong Doyool has targeted Cheong Joohwa—whose existence has long been a topic of discussion—by linking her to the Azure Dragon’s disappearance.

By doing so, he aims to deflect criticism directed at himself and gain an advantage in his confrontation with the Cheong Soha faction.

‘Certainly, if this happens, public opinion within the family will side with Cheong Doyool.’

While I have some influence, Cheong Soha accepting Cheong Joohwa was a special case. Most other factions within the family view her as a major thorn in their side.

It wasn’t that strange; groups with deep-rooted histories tend to be strict about internal rules and customs.

The neutral factions, who follow neither side and haven’t deeply involved themselves, have been biding their time, watching for an opportunity.

If they form a consensus in favor of Cheong Doyool, it will undoubtedly become a difficult situation for Cheong Soha.

‘Cheong Doyool is certainly no pushover.’

However, contrary to the apparent power dynamic, the ones actually holding the advantageous position in this fight are us.

Because the very Azure Dragon, who supposedly vanished after showing displeasure at a broken taboo, is with none other than Cheong Joohwa.

If that fact comes to light, the Cheong Doyool faction will not only lose their justification for action but will also be swept into an even greater controversy, suffering significant damage.

Incidentally, it would also create an opportunity for Cheong Joohwa to establish a foundation for her activities amidst the family’s negative perceptions, making it the best possible scenario from my perspective.

‘…But we must act cautiously.’

Revealing that fact right now wouldn’t solve anything at all.

If we did such a thing while the other side still had resources, Cheong Doyool might resort to extreme measures, risking a major clash to seize the Azure Dragon from us.

In other words, revealing the Azure Dragon’s existence must only happen after the conflict between both sides has progressed to some extent and their forces have been depleted.

Until that decisive moment arrives, we must protect Cheong Joohwa from their grasp by any means necessary.

That was the primary objective I needed to focus on.

As I quickly headed towards Cheong Joohwa’s location, I organized my thoughts.

‘Now that the Cheong Doyool faction has made its move in earnest, simply hiding won’t be easy.’

The academy is also under the Cheong Family’s influence, making it impossible to return there before resolving this matter.

Therefore, my plan was to first rendezvous with Cheong Joohwa, then buy time by traveling with subordinates directly dispatched by Cheong Soha for the time being.

However, our opponent is Cheong Doyool, called one of the Cheong Family’s two great pillars. That alone couldn’t guarantee safety.

Thus, I decided to take out one additional insurance policy.

Ring ring.

Tik.

[What’s the call about? Well, I can roughly guess.]

“I need your help.”

The target was none other than Cheong Jiyeon, the de facto leader of the Cheongdam 2nd Guard Unit, possessing strength comparable to a 1st-Rank Exorcist.

“…You’re here.”

Arriving at the agreed location, Cheong Joohwa, who had been hiding deep in the mountains using a Concealment Art, revealed herself.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. I’m more worried about Grandma. I was told to hide and that things would be okay, but…”

On that front, she was probably right. Above all, Cheong Doyool, who values his own prestige and the family’s reputation, wouldn’t lay a hand on people around him without justification.

“Still, just in case, I’ll ask Cheong Soha for protection.”

“Okay, thank you. But are you really okay with helping me like this? Something dangerous might happen…”

“My own circumstances are quite entangled too. If you trace it back, one of the causes is the two of us capturing the Azure Dragon.”

I couldn’t back out here even if I wanted to, and even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to accept it.

Briefly scanning our surroundings, I continued.

“Wait here. Exorcists sent by the Cheong Soha faction will come. Let’s join up with them first.”

“Yes. That does seem better.”

Cheong Joohwa, who usually maintained a relaxed attitude in most situations due to confidence in her own abilities, couldn’t oppose the genuine powerhouses of the prestigious family yet.

Her gaze, which had been shaking nervously since earlier, proved that.

Whoosh

“Then I’ll use the Concealment Art again and stay hidden.”

“Alright.”

She probably wasn’t showing it outwardly, but internally the burden must be immense.

With numerous family exorcists targeting her specifically, it was only natural in a way.

“You probably know this already, but exorcists who’ve made a name for themselves in the field, including Elders, are all monsters. You must never confront them head-on.”

Well, that’s certainly true.

I have a few trump cards, but they’re only for escaping or striking at vulnerabilities, not the kind that can overwhelm an opponent.

Hiding alongside Cheong Joohwa, I first tried my best to ease her tension, as she was completely rigid.

“Thank you. I feel a bit better now.”

“Things like this aren’t something you experience often. It’s only natural to be confused.”

“…You say that, but your face looks too calm for someone saying that.”

That’s because I had anticipated this situation long ago, and it wasn’t anything particularly special for me.

The title of 7th place in the PVP rankings of a famous game was a position that always had to accept challenges from everyone.

Besides, whether they’re Special-Rank Exorcists or S-Rank Specters, they’re all opponents I’ll have to surpass someday anyway.

There’s no point in getting tense from now on.

‘……’

How long had we been holding our breath like that?

From among the trees in the mountains where there wasn’t even a path, the presence of someone began to be felt.

Cheong Joohwa, having likely sensed it too, raised her drooping eyelids and met my gaze.

“Is it our side?”

“Probably.”

Roughly matching the expected time, we waited for the presence to approach without excessive tension.

And the moment Cheong Joohwa was about to release the Concealment Art, I, sensing a strange incongruity, quickly stopped her.

“Something’s off.”

“…Wh-why are you making me nervous?”

It really was strange. According to what we heard earlier, Cheong Soha’s subordinates said they would approach this area and then send a pre-arranged signal to call us out.

But right now, I don’t sense any such intention from them at all.

Literally, their movements seem like they’re just searching for someone.

“It seems they’re not Cheong Soha’s subordinates after all.”

“…Could they have already been dealt with?”

In the worst-case scenario, that was possible.

And as I calmly focused my vision, I could spot a certain emblem on their attire.

‘Three blue-white trees?’

That meant their affiliation was neither the Cheong Doyool faction nor the Cheong Soha faction.

And, to my knowledge, among the current neutral factions within the family, the number siding with Cheong Doyool was far greater.

‘……’

As I took out a talisman from my pocket, Cheong Joohwa seemed to grasp the meaning, deeply bowing her head and letting out a sigh.

“To be honest, I’m not confident.”

“They don’t look that strong. If we take the initiative, we can buy enough time to escape.”

But immediately after, someone’s voice came from right behind us.

“…Well, well. Here you are.”

Feeling my intuition sound a warning, I reflexively turned my body and formed the fastest deployable Art Formula, firing it at the opponent.

Whoosh

Screech!

“Soul Blaze Rending Wave.”

However, even as I acted, I thought. This is probably bad.

A height approaching 2 meters, with a massive build to match. Yet, despite his noticeable physique, I had completely failed to detect the man’s presence.

Judging by his apparent age, likely past his 40s, his identity was probably…

‘…Cheong Wooncheol, the second-in-command of the Cheong Kibeom faction?’

This was completely unexpected. The Cheong Kibeom faction was among the neutral forces, the one most removed from the influence of the two major factions—a truly independent force, one might say.

Their power is evaluated as following right behind the Cheong Soha and Cheong Doyool factions. Naturally, their second-in-command, Cheong Wooncheol, is also a powerhouse possessing strength beyond that of ordinary 1st-Rank Exorcists.

It meant he was an opponent we absolutely couldn’t face head-on.

Crunch!

“Not bad reflexes. But it’s already too late.”

Due to the Cursed Technique deployed in an instant, a mass of Spiritual Power formed above me tried to crush me like a boulder.

However, I too, having anticipated the attack wouldn’t work, was already deploying the next Art Formula without a moment’s hesitation.

Slither

Whoosh!

“Flying Shadow Step.”

Swoosh!*

By using Evolution to extend my shadow in advance and move it, then using the Art Formula to shift my physical body to that location.

It was one of the Severed Shadow’s signature techniques, which I had even used before against the rampaging Shin Dohoon.

At the sight of this never-before-seen technique, Cheong Wooncheol’s expression changed.

“Hoh, to react to my attack at that age? What was the technique you just used?”

“……”

“I suppose I owe you an apology. I was feeling restless, so I moved personally, but honestly, I didn’t think I’d need to use my strength against the likes of you.”

Those were words acknowledging me, but it wasn’t exactly good news. Whatever the case, we were enemies now.

“Youngster. Your name?”

“…Han Kangyoon.”

“Hmm, haven’t heard of it.”

In response to Cheong Wooncheol’s puzzled reaction, one of the many exorcists who had by now approached our vicinity spoke up.

“If it’s Han Kangyoon, he’s the one recently evaluated as standing out at the academy.”

“Is that so. With this level of skill, he should at least be the runner-up.”

“…If I may be so bold, I heard his grades rank around the top ten.”

“What?”

Given that they were undoubtedly Cheong Wooncheol’s subordinates, it was no exaggeration to say we were in a complete crisis.

‘…Cheong Joohwa seems to have frozen up.’

That was understandable. She must have realized long ago that our opponent was one of the family Elders.

Simply steeling herself to oppose him must have been an ordeal.

However, looking again, that didn’t seem to be entirely the case.

I hadn’t noticed until now, but from the ground of this hiding spot, a familiar aura of Spiritual Power began to be felt.

She had prepared a Ritual Array in advance for a situation like this.

Immediately after, at the silent gaze sent from Cheong Joohwa, I understood its meaning and nodded. Then, I quickly pulled something out from my pocket.

It was the item she had given me previously at the academy.

Namely, a talisman created in the manner of Cheongwoon, an ancestor of the Cheong Family.