Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Cheon-geom-hoe's Invitation
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*Whoosh.*
With a sound that tore through the air, a figure in white descended, their movement technique as fluid as a cloud.
“Hahaha! You have remarkably sharp senses.”
The figure who appeared was a man dressed in white, an old sword hanging from his waist.
“I happened to be passing by and witnessed your duel. But I couldn't bring myself to intervene in the middle of it.”
His eyes were strikingly clear, and the white teeth revealed whenever he smiled left a strong impression.
He had a friendly appearance that would make anyone feel at ease, but Bu Eun-seol looked as if he were stifling a yawn.
“I see.”
He then turned away, as if he had lost interest.
The man followed Bu Eun-seol as he walked away, speaking again.
“Did you take care of all these blood demons yourself?”
“…”
No answer came, but the man persistently tried to make conversation.
From the looks of it, the man had arrived around the time Bu Eun-seol was having his final confrontation with Yang Myeong.
“To kill Yang Myeong, the Hall Master of the Blood Demon Hall, in a single blow… The martial world will soon be in an uproar.”
Bu Eun-seol didn’t even glance back, but the man continued to follow and speak to him.
“With skills like these, why didn’t you show your true strength at the martial arts tournament?”
“You know me?”
As Bu Eun-seol finally spoke, the man let out a low laugh and drew closer.
“I’ve been watching you closely since the tournament.”
“So you were in the audience.”
Bu Eun-seol turned his head away again, his disinterest clear.
At that, the man shrugged his shoulders as if he had no choice and said.
“I am a disciple of the Cheon-geom-hoe.”
“The Cheon-geom-hoe?”
At those words, Heuk-pyo, who had been walking ahead, saw his eyes widen.
The Cheon-geom-hoe.
It was a legendary swordsmen’s association, passed down through generations in the martial world.
Traditionally, fame in the Orthodox Faction belonged to figures from the Nine Sects One Gang or the Eight Great Families, while in the Demonic Faction, it belonged to those from grand powers like the Demonic Cult and the Ten Demonic Sects.
With their profound martial arts accumulated over generations, systematic training methods, and the cultivation of countless disciples, their ranks of masters were inevitably deep.
The world’s greatest swordsmen, who roamed the martial world independently without belonging to either the Orthodox or Unorthodox Factions, realized this and gathered with a common purpose.
—How about we gather the masters who wander the martial world alone, unbound by faction, to share the secrets of our sword arts and help each other grow?
Had they belonged to one of the great factions, sharing their secret sword arts with others would have been unthinkable.
But the swordsmen who gathered in the Cheon-geom-hoe belonged to no faction and had awakened to the sword on their own. They did not find it difficult to share their ultimate techniques.
In the end, ten peerless swordsmen, known for being madly devoted to the sword, finally created a small swordsmen’s association. That was the Cheon-geom-hoe.
“You mean to say you are a swordsman of the Cheon-geom-hoe, Great Warrior?”
An association shrouded in rumors, one that never revealed itself, like a divine dragon in the clouds—the Cheon-geom-hoe.
And the man before them was a swordsman from that mysterious association?
“Hahaha. Don’t misunderstand. I am merely a disciple of the elder of the Seventh Seat.”
“A disciple?”
“That’s right.”
The man, revealing his white teeth, cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute toward Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo.
“I am Yu Hwa-ryeong, disciple of the elder of the Seventh Seat of the Cheon-geom-hoe, U-hak.”
U-hak was a master from a previous generation, renowned for his terrifyingly fast sword.
At that, Bu Eun-seol, who had been standing silently, flashed a sharp look in his eyes.
“So. Did you come here to fight me?”
“Hahaha. Of course not.”
The man, Yu Hwa-ryeong, shook his head with a smile.
“This humble one is so untalented that I haven’t even mastered half of the sword arts my master taught me. If I were to fight you, I would surely lose a hundred times out of a hundred.”
“Then you have some other business?”
“Hahaha! Must one always have business to strike up a conversation in the martial world…?”
Before he could finish his sentence, Bu Eun-seol turned away, and Yu Hwa-ryeong quickly waved his hand.
“You’re quite impatient. Very well! I’ll get straight to the point.”
Having grasped Bu Eun-seol’s cold personality, Yu Hwa-ryeong glanced around and spoke in a low voice.
“I’ve had my eye on you since the martial arts tournament.”
“…”
“Your sword style is unique and your killing intent is deep, which made me wonder if you might be a wicked person. Yang Myeong’s suspicious forfeiture in the final match only strengthened that suspicion.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong looked at Bu Eun-seol and spoke with conviction.
“But this incident has made it clear. You are not a wicked person, but a man of the Orthodox Faction.”
At that moment, Heuk-pyo, standing next to Bu Eun-seol, had to swallow his incredulous expression.
*‘Well, I suppose it would look that way.’*
Bu Eun-seol had cut down none other than a Hall Master of the Hell-Blood Star without a moment's hesitation.
Even if he were to spit and swear that he wasn't from the Orthodox Faction, the situation made it impossible not to misunderstand him as one.
“Though you didn’t gain great fame at the tournament, don’t be disappointed. Now that you’ve slain a Hall Master of the Hell-Blood Star, your reputation will soon spread far and wide.”
“You talk too much.”
Bu Eun-seol wore a bored expression.
Despite claiming he would be direct, Yu Hwa-ryeong was just rambling on about useless things.
“Stay out of my business, whether I’m Orthodox or Unorthodox. I don’t care for such things.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong looked slightly surprised.
A true follower of the righteous path would never say such a thing. Bu Eun-seol had implicitly suggested he was a man of the Demonic Faction.
*Click.*
As Heuk-pyo, leading the way, reached the carriage and opened the door, Yu Hwa-ryeong spoke urgently.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are Orthodox, Unorthodox, or somewhere in between!”
As if having made up his mind, Yu Hwa-ryeong spoke in a firm voice.
“Our Cheon-geom-hoe also stands between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions. As long as you are not an evil man with a wicked heart, it makes no difference.”
He, who had been beating around the bush, finally got to his main point.
“So come with me to Sichuan.”
“Sichuan?”
“A regular assembly hosted by my Senior Martial Uncle, the Second Seat, and my master will be held soon.”
Bu Eun-seol turned his head, wondering what this was all about, and Yu Hwa-ryeong nodded as if he had expected it.
“The association is currently searching for exceptional talents who can inherit the very essence of a newly created sword art.”
He took a step forward and said in a low voice.
“Someone just like you.”
Hearing this, Heuk-pyo’s eyes sparkled.
The Cheon-geom-hoe was a swordsmen’s association founded long ago by ten legendary swordsmen who had roamed the martial world alone.
If they had created a new sword art, it must be an ultimate sword technique, one that could stand comparison with the ultimate arts of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Eight Great Families.
But Bu Eun-seol shook his head firmly.
“I have my own school. I have no intention of taking another master.”
“Don’t worry. This transmission of sword arts is not about establishing a formal master-disciple relationship.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Our association was originally an organization that sought to transcend the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions to create and pass down outstanding sword arts. Although we now take in disciples to maintain the association… that original purpose still lives on.”
“Get to the point. If you beat around the bush one more time, I won’t speak with you again.”
As Bu Eun-seol replied coldly, Yu Hwa-ryeong answered as if he had no other choice.
“A new sword art was created, but none of the disciples in our association could master it.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Yu Hwa-ryeong lowered his head in shame.
“So, the Second Seat ordered us to roam the martial world and find a peerless talent who could learn the sword art. That’s why I went to the martial arts tournament.”
“This place makes no sense.”
Bu Eun-seol let out a cold laugh.
“You’ll teach your sword arts to anyone with enough talent, regardless of their background… Is this Cheon-geom-hoe a charity organization?”
“You don’t understand.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Yu Hwa-ryeong shook his head.
“In the martial world, exceptional talent alone is enough to receive incredible benefits.”
“…”
“What if a peerless swordsman of the realm creates a brilliant sword art, but there is no talent to learn it? Or what if the talent doesn’t want to learn that sword art?”
He spoke with a faint smile.
“That swordsman would get on his knees if he had to, just to bring in a disciple who could learn his art. That is the way of the martial world.”
He was right.
If there was an outstanding master, one could beg and plead to be taken as a disciple.
But an outstanding disciple was someone you could search for until your feet wore out, and even then, you could only take them in if fate allowed it.
Hadn’t even the Demonic Cult held the Ten Demonic Successor Tournament to acquire exceptional talents?
“Young Master.”
Just then, Heuk-pyo whispered softly to Bu Eun-seol.
“Isn’t the reason you are traveling the martial world to become even a little stronger? If so, why not accept his offer?”
Then, Yu Hwa-ryeong added one more thing.
“And just because I take you there doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to receive our association’s sword arts.”
“What?”
As Heuk-pyo showed a surprised expression, Yu Hwa-ryeong gave a bitter smile.
“Whether or not to transmit the sword arts will be decided by them after they assess your talent. I am merely bringing them a peerless talent like you.”
“I have one question.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Yu Hwa-ryeong nodded with a smile.
“Ask anything.”
“If you are truly just looking for outstanding talents with no strings attached, you could have just spread a rumor that the Cheon-geom-hoe is looking for talent, and countless martial artists would have flocked to you.”
Bu Eun-seol looked down at Yu Hwa-ryeong with a sharp gaze and continued.
“But to go so far as to have your disciples wander the martial world to find them? That doesn't seem to make much sense.”
“A sharp point.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong nodded and replied.
“However, I can only tell you the reason after you agree to enter the Cheon-geom-hoe. To be more precise, I can tell you right before you enter the Cheon-geom-hoe’s assembly.”
Bu Eun-seol thought deeply for a moment before nodding.
“So it’s not just about talent. There must be a specific condition.”
“You’re quick! That’s exactly right.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong slapped his knee and nodded.
“I can’t tell that condition to someone who hasn’t even agreed to join our association yet. Such a rumor would surely spread.”
“Hmm.”
Though all his questions had finally been answered, Bu Eun-seol did not reply easily.
He had not yet fully mastered even the martial arts of the Nang-ya-gak. Moreover, the Cheon-geom-hoe was a place that stood between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions, a gathering of those madly devoted to the sword.
He wondered if their sword arts were truly what he needed.
“For your information, I’m not the only one looking for a talent to learn the sword art.”
When Bu Eun-seol didn’t respond immediately, Yu Hwa-ryeong said in a suggestive tone.
“I hear my other martial brothers have already scouted and are bringing masters from the Nine Sects One Gang and the Eight Great Families. There’s even a rumor that my eldest martial brother is bringing a Dae-ui-go-su from the Huashan Sect.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong looked at Bu Eun-seol with a serious expression.
“Going to our association will not be a bad thing for you. How about coming with me to Sichuan?”
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had intended to refuse.
But the moment he heard that various masters from the Orthodox Faction would be gathering at the Cheon-geom-hoe, his thoughts changed.
*‘This could be a good chance to see the masters of the Nine Sects and Eight Great Families.’*
From the perspective of the Orthodox masters, Dong-pyo-seo-rang was nothing more than a ronin market stuck in the territory of the Hell-Blood Star.
Because of this, most of the renowned Orthodox masters had not attended the martial arts tournament.
For a long time, he had wanted to experience firsthand the skills of the Orthodox masters who had made their names known throughout the martial world.
*‘On top of that, it would be a good opportunity to get a direct look at the Cheon-geom-hoe, which I’ve only heard about in rumors.’*
“Very well. I’ll go.”
“An excellent decision!”
As Bu Eun-seol readily agreed, Yu Hwa-ryeong’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.
“You will not regret going to our association!”
“I don’t think I’ll have any regrets.”
A cold smile touched the corners of Bu Eun-seol’s lips.
He was now heading to Sichuan to have a go at the masters of the Orthodox Faction.