Chapter 72

BANG!

The door burst open, and a group of people stormed into the room.

It was the Black Cloud Corps, led by Heo Ranju and Daoshi Go.

Daoshi Go looked around the room and said,

“It seems he’s already left.”

The room was empty.

The bedding was neatly folded, and there wasn’t even a trace of anyone having lain on the bed.

Hyeolseung, who had been carefully examining the room, said,

“It’s clear he didn’t come in last night.”

“Did he move his lodgings, knowing we were coming?”

“I don’t think so. It seems he just rented the room and never stayed here at all.”

“Hmm!”

Daoshi Go let out a low hum.

Hyeolseung was not only strong in Martial Arts but also skilled in this kind of intellectual work. That was why Heo Ranju and Daoshi Go trusted his judgment immensely.

Daoshi Go looked at Heo Ranju.

“What are you going to do? Should we just wait here for him to return? Or go back?”

“It’s useless to wait. He won’t come back here.”

“Why do you think so?”

“He’s a man who moves with such meticulousness. Would he come back knowing full well he’d be the first one suspected?”

“That’s true.”

“I must be a crazy bitch. To be so completely captivated by a pretty face… When I see him again, I’m going to peel every last bit of skin off that bastard.”

Heo Ranju was like a snake full of venom.

She believed she had been thoroughly played by Pyo Wol.

“We have to catch him as soon as possible.”

“Daoshi Go, do you think the damage will get worse?”

“Haven’t you seen what he’s done? Not only are his Martial Arts profound, but he’s also cruel. And he possesses a meticulous mind. If we let a man like this run wild, the consequences will be endless.”

Daoshi Go, who was always smiling, was not smiling.

It was proof of how seriously he was taking the situation.

While Jang Muryang was the one who practically led the Black Cloud Corps, Daoshi Go was their spiritual pillar.

With his unique, jocular atmosphere, Daoshi Go helped the Black Cloud Corps unite as one.

But that didn’t mean Daoshi Go was just a nice person.

He was the very model of what people called a Knife Hidden Behind a Smile.

He was a terrifying being because he hid a blade within his smile.

It was rare for such a man to reveal his emotions so honestly. It was proof of just how threatening he perceived Pyo Wol to be.

“Somehow, I had a bad feeling about him from the moment I first saw him.”

“Bullshit! You didn’t say anything like that back then.”

“Do I have to say everything? Anyway, be careful.”

“About what?”

“You were once swayed by that bastard.”

“Bullshit! When was I? I am Heo Ranju, the Blood Spider. I may devour men, but I never give them my heart.”

“Alright! Hold on to that resolve for a long time. If you foolishly give your heart to that bastard, I’ll kill you myself first.”

For a moment, Heo Ranju felt a chill run down her spine.

He spoke with a smiling face, but Daoshi Go was a man who could carry out his words at any time.

“Don’t worry. That will never happen.”

“Hehe! Of course, it shouldn’t.”

Only then did Daoshi Go flash his characteristic smile. Nevertheless, Heo Ranju couldn’t relax her guard.

Heo Ranju looked at Hyeolseung.

“Well, did you find anything?”

“Nothing! He didn’t leave a single hair behind.”

“What the hell are you good for? You damn monk!”

“Amitabha! I’m a punching bag, a real punching bag.”

Hyeolseung sighed at Heo Ranju’s scolding.

Daoshi Go shook his head back and forth.

“Sigh! That bitch’s temper. That’s why men can’t stand her for more than a month. Anyway, where did this guy go? Could it be?”

An ominous thought crossed his mind. But Daoshi Go quickly shook his head, denying his own thought.

“No! It can’t be.”

＊＊＊

The Geumcheon Gate had offered a separate villa for Cheongyeop’s stability.

It was a gesture for him to recuperate in an independent villa without worrying about outside attention. As soon as Cheongyeop returned to the Geumcheon Gate, he secluded himself in the villa and began Qi Circulation.

He had subdued Jeong Hwa, but in the process, he too had suffered considerable internal injuries. They were deep enough to plague him for the rest of his life if not treated in time. But Cheongyeop was not worried.

Fortunately, the Qingcheng Sect had a Qi Circulation Disruption method that was useful in times like these.

The Qi Circulation Disruption method, developed over hundreds of years, was far superior in efficacy compared to those of other sects.

Thanks to this, even though only three Shichen had passed since he began Qi Circulation, he was able to put out the most urgent fire.

“Hoo!”

Cheongyeop opened his eyes, exhaling a breath he had held deep in his lungs.

His gaze was much clearer than before he had entered this place.

Still, he could not let his guard down.

Treating his internal injuries with Qi Circulation Disruption was only a temporary measure, not a proper cure.

To completely heal his internal injuries, he would have to return to the Qingcheng Sect, take a secret elixir, and then focus solely on Qi Circulation for at least two or three months.

“Still, should I be satisfied with having subdued Jeong Hwa for now?”

The confrontation between Jeong Hwa and Cheongyeop was not a simple fight.

Each was the top Disciple of their respective sect, and they were Martial Artists considered likely to be the next Sect Master. Their duel was, in effect, a duel between the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect, and a watershed moment that could determine which sect would dominate the flow of the Sichuan Jianghu in the future.

Fortunately, Cheongyeop had overwhelmed Jeong Hwa.

That meant the Qingcheng Sect could overwhelm the Emei Sect in the next era as well. Even if Jeong Hwa or the Emei Sect denied it, others who had watched their fight would think so.

It was that important a fight, which was why Cheongyeop rejoiced in his victory.

“Hoo! I should rest a bit and then resume Qi Circulation.”

It was then.

Ssk!

A strange, faint sound reached Cheongyeop’s ears.

Someone was entering the residence where he was staying.

At first, he didn’t think much of it.

Although it was a separate villa, there were Qingcheng Sect disciples standing guard outside, and among them were those who regularly observed and reported on Cheongyeop’s condition.

It wasn’t strange at all to occasionally sense a presence like this. But Cheongyeop felt a strong sense of unease.

It was because of the soft footsteps.

No matter how careful the Qingcheng Sect disciples were, they could not muffle their footsteps to this extent.

‘Then the Geumcheon Gate Sect Leader? No! If it were really him, there would be no reason to muffle his footsteps like this.’

Cheongyeop released his cross-legged position and stood up.

At that moment, the door opened silently, and someone entered.

The moment he saw the person who had entered so abruptly without warning, a deep furrow formed on Cheongyeop’s brow.

It was because the uninvited guest’s face was too handsome.

A beauty that would make any woman fall in love at first sight and eyes that glowed red even in the darkness awakened Cheongyeop’s vigilance.

Cheongyeop grabbed the sword he had placed beside him and said,

“Who are you?”

“Pyo Wol!”

The man, Pyo Wol, readily revealed his identity.

Cheongyeop tilted his head. It was a name he had never heard before in his life. But Cheongyeop did not panic and continued speaking.

“Fine. Pyo Wol! Why have you snuck in like a stray cat at this late hour?”

“No one who sneaks in at night comes with good intentions. Neither do I.”

“I asked a foolish question. Those Who Come Mean No Good, Those Who Come Are Not Kind, after all.”

Cheongyeop’s expression hardened.

“Let me ask one last thing. Did you, by any chance, kill the young master of the Thunder Clan?”

“I did!”

“So it was you. May I ask why you killed him?”

“To draw in the Qingcheng Sect.”

Pyo Wol answered obediently.

He knew Cheongyeop was trying to buy as much time as possible by talking like this. But it didn’t matter. Pyo Wol had already subdued all the Martial Artists guarding the villa.

Cheongyeop’s face showed a look of suspicion.

“Do you have a grudge against our sect? Why would you draw our sect in?”

“I have a grudge against both Qingcheng and Emei.”

“Emei? Then the death of the Emei Sect’s Disciple must be your doing as well.”

“That’s right!”

Pyo Wol nodded readily.

Cheongyeop’s expression grew grave.

He had been buying time by talking to Pyo Wol, but not a single Disciple from outside had rushed in. It meant Pyo Wol had complete control of the space.

Cheongyeop secretly raised his Internal Power and said,

“A man who holds a grudge against both the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect. I can’t quite recall. Could you tell this ignorant one your true identity?”

“I’m an Assassin.”

“An Assassin?”

“It seems you still don’t remember. I was raised as an Assassin because of the Emei Sect, and I became a public enemy of Sichuan because of the Qingcheng Sect. If you still don’t remember, it would be better to just remove your head.”

“Could it be… seven years ago?”

“It seems you finally remember. You’re not a complete idiot, I see.”

“Then you’re the Assassin who killed Junior Martial Brother Gun-sang.”

“That’s right!”

Pyo Wol nodded.

A cold smile had already appeared on his lips. In contrast, Cheongyeop’s expression hardened even more.

The memory of that day seven years ago came flooding back.

The Qingcheng Sect had boasted the tightest security network in all of Sichuan Province. That pride was shattered seven years ago.

The incident where a mere scrap of an Assassin assassinated Woo Gun-sang, the greatest talent of the Qingcheng Sect, sent a huge shock not only to the Qingcheng Sect but to all the sects in Sichuan Province.

The elites of the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect were deployed to hunt down the Assassin who killed Woo Gun-sang, and numerous sects within Sichuan Province assisted them.

The reason Cheongyeop was trembling with rage was not simply because Pyo Wol had assassinated Woo Gun-sang.

Pyo Wol had lured the disciples of the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect into an underground cavity and revealed the truth of the incident.

From that day on, the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect became mortal enemies.

The source of all those incidents was the Assassin standing right before his eyes.

Pyo Wol had already covered the lower half of his face with a scarf. Cheongyeop knew well what that meant.

“Pyo Wol! I will never forget that name.”

Cheongyeop raised his sword and pointed it at Pyo Wol.

Although he hadn’t healed his internal injuries, the thought that he couldn’t handle a single Assassin never even crossed his mind.

No matter how deep his internal injuries were, he was the one who would become the next Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect. If he couldn’t handle a mere scrap of an Assassin, he would have no excuse if his position as the top Disciple was taken away.

“Pyo Wol! You made a big mistake today. You should have just stayed hidden in the darkness. If you had, you would have preserved your insignificant life for a few more days.”

Shwaaak!

Cheongyeop’s sword cut through the darkness, and a fierce Sword Qi flew towards Pyo Wol. But Pyo Wol simply shook it off with a single tremor of his body and moved forward.

It was Serpentine Steps.

He didn’t bring out the Ghostly Rain or Soul Restraining Thread he had been using frequently of late.

Today, he would kill Cheongyeop not with his unique Martial Art, the Hungry Ghost Path, but with the Emei Sect’s Supreme Art, the Drifting Snow Piercing Cloud Palm.

The Drifting Snow Piercing Cloud Palm was a Supreme Art of the Emei Sect and was extremely difficult to learn. Without mastering the Emei Sect’s Mind Method, one couldn’t even dream of unleashing its true power.

But Pyo Wol had replaced the Emei Sect’s Mind Method with the Thunderbolt Soul Severing Mind Method.

As a result, the Drifting Snow Piercing Cloud Palm became even more sinister and destructive. It had actually surpassed the power of the original.

Kwaaa!

As Pyo Wol waved his hand, a fierce palm force descended upon Cheongyeop.

Cheongyeop swung his sword, deflecting the palm force.

BANG!

The deflected palm force struck the wall of the villa, causing it to collapse.

The villa shook precariously as if it would collapse at any moment.

“What was that?”

“Isn’t that Senior Martial Uncle Cheongyeop’s residence?”

Startled by the sudden commotion, the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect and Geumcheon Gate rushed outside.

At that moment, two figures burst through the roof of the villa and soared into the air.

One was clearly Cheongyeop, and the other’s face was half-covered by a scarf, making him unidentifiable.

If Cheongyeop had his way, he would have revealed Pyo Wol’s identity right then and there. But if he opened his mouth while executing his Sword Art with deep internal injuries, his qi could scatter and flow backward.

Because of that, Cheongyeop could not say a word and had to execute his Sword Art with his lips tightly sealed.

‘I just need to subdue him. It won’t be too late to reveal his identity after I’ve subdued him.’

Shwaaak!

His sword cut through the darkness, shooting towards Pyo Wol’s vital points. But Pyo Wol dodged Cheongyeop’s sword just by contorting his body in mid-air.

The disciples of the Qingcheng Sect tried to step forward to help Cheongyeop, but the fight between the two was so fierce that they didn’t dare to intervene.

At that moment, Pyo Wol unleashed the Ultimate Technique of the Drifting Snow Piercing Cloud Palm, the Drifting Snow Whirlwind Wall.

Fwoooosh!

A palm force of immense power, incomparable to anything before, shot towards Cheongyeop.

“Is that the Drifting Snow Piercing Cloud Palm?”

“Then is he a Martial Artist from the Emei Sect?”

A few Martial Artists from the Qingcheng Sect recognized the Palm Technique Pyo Wol had unleashed. It was because the Drifting Snow Piercing Cloud Palm was that famous of a Special Technique.

“This pathetic palm force is nothing…”

Cheongyeop gathered all his remaining Internal Energy and imbued it into his sword.

His intention was to cut through the palm force in a single blow.

It was a move calculated on the assumption that even if his Internal Energy was completely exhausted, the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect would surely rush to his aid.

He swung his sword with all his might.

Fwoong!

But his sword cut through empty air in vain.

Cheongyeop’s eyes widened.

Something impossible had happened.

For the sword he had trained with for decades to miss was impossible even in his dreams.

Cheongyeop unconsciously looked down at his legs. He felt something wrapped around them.

It was a thread of qi, invisible to the naked eye—the Soul Restraining Thread.

At the crucial moment, Pyo Wol had unleashed the Soul Restraining Thread and thrown Cheongyeop off balance. The slight difference had made Cheongyeop’s sword miss.

BANG!

The Ultimate Technique of the Drifting Snow Piercing Cloud Palm exploded against Cheongyeop’s chest.

“Kuaaack!”

Cheongyeop let out a desperate scream and plummeted to the ground.

“Senior Martial Uncle!”

“How can this be!”

The disciples of the Qingcheng Sect and Geumcheon Gate rushed over. By the time they arrived, Cheongyeop’s chest bones were completely shattered, and he was already dead.

Faced with Cheongyeop’s gruesome death, the Martial Artists of the Qingcheng Sect and Geumcheon Gate lost their reason.

“After him!”

“The Emei Sect killed Senior Martial Uncle Cheongyeop.”

“We must have revenge.”

The Martial Artists of the Qingcheng Sect and Geumcheon Gate lost their minds.

Before their very eyes, Cheongyeop had lost his life to a true Supreme Art of the Emei Sect. They thought the Emei Sect had sent an Expert to take revenge.

Without anyone to stop them, the Martial Artists rushed outside.

Their destination was the Hundred Flowers Room, where the disciples of the Emei Sect were staying.

“Waaaaah!”

“Let’s drive the filthy Emei Sect out of Chengdu.”

“We must avenge Senior Martial Uncle Cheongyeop.”

The night streets of Chengdu were dominated by their voices.

The night sky of Chengdu, which had just barely calmed down, began to be stained with blood once more.