Chapter 86
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Finally Reunited
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For most masters of the martial world, that light would pierce a hole in their body before they even caught sight of it, but Seonwoyong lightly tossed the object in his hand to block it.
That object was the very one Seonwoyong had first hurled at Jeon Sogi, gleaming gold under the moonlight.
The Divine Gold Token, following Seonwoyong's will, began pursuing Jeon Sogi's inkstone.
Jeon Sogi's inkstone, too, evaded the Divine Gold Token like a living creature, floating up into the sky before charging toward Seonwoyong's head.
At that moment, the Divine Gold Token pursuing the inkstone halted briefly in midair.
Jeon Sogi confirmed the appearance of the gleaming golden Divine Gold Token.
“Gasp. The Divine Gold Token!”
Jeon Sogi was greatly shocked, but his inkstone was already plunging toward Seonwoyong's crown.
Yet Seonwoyong, grinning with delight as if at some great joke, extended his right hand toward his own head.
“Flying inkstone at midnight lacks a certain thrill. Then allow me to provide something... Haha.”
In that instant, a silver beam shot from Seonwoyong's right hand, engulfing the inkstone wrapped in inky qi.
Boom.
A massive explosion flashed silver-white across the dark night sky, followed by countless smaller blasts twinkling like stars.
The dazzling display resembled a grand fireworks show or the majestic birth of the cosmos, momentarily illuminating the surrounding darkness before vanishing.
The next moment, the area grew even darker.
“Northern Sea Divine Art...”
Jeon Sogi murmured, standing straight in the shadows.
His two hands had already caught the Divine Gold Token flying through the air.
Seonwoyong approached him and extended a hand.
“It's been ages, hasn't it?”
Jeon Sogi hesitated to take the hand and asked in return.
“If that's truly the Northern Sea Divine Art, and that's undoubtedly the Divine Gold Token... then surely you are.”
“You are? You still haven't recognized me?”
“No, it's just... I hardly know what to say. But you're really him?”
“That's right, it's me. The U Cheonso of old.”
“Heh... In that case, what a sight this is. We're not kids anymore.”
Despite his words, Jeon Sogi was already kneeling with the Divine Gold Token in hand, bowing his head low.
“Indeed. Things turned out that way, against my wishes.”
Jeon Sogi slowly raised his head and offered the Divine Gold Token with both hands, and Seonwoyong grasped his hand.
“Even so, your face still bore traces of the old cult leader, so I was unsure. I wondered if you might be one of the leader's descendants...”
“Tell me about it. You should've recognized my face, yet you didn't. Heh.”
“Then you were teasing me on purpose earlier? No wonder you kept smirking.”
Seonwoyong pulled Jeon Sogi to his feet by the hand.
“Should I have burst into tears and snot upon seeing you after so long, then hugged you tight?”
“Not that, but you certainly kept me in suspense, Cult Leader.”
The two men now embraced.
“Look, should I have walked into the inn, seen you, and gone, 'Hey, know me? It's me, me!' or something like that? Haha...”
“Anyway, I get it. And it's good to see you. Alive and well after all this time.”
“Likewise, good to see you. But why do you think I dragged you all the way out here?”
At those words, Jeon Sogi's expression hardened, and he transmitted a question via inner force.
‘Does that mean someone was watching us?’
Seonwoyong did not answer, instead quietly releasing Jeon Sogi's hand and drawing his Victory Sage Sword in a flash.
“Indeed. But they won't get the chance again.”
The next instant, the Victory Sage Sword shot from Seonwoyong's hand faster than light, slicing the dark night sky in half.
“Urk.”
A faint voice sounded from afar, but it could not escape the notice of the two men.
They leaped toward the source simultaneously.
Seonwoyong had just retrieved his Victory Sage Sword, which had flown back through the night sky.
There lay a man with a pierced chest.
“Missed. Rusty after so long. Dang.”
“No, you hit him right on target.”
“I didn't intend to kill. Just meant to lop off a leg or so.”
Seonwoyong and Jeon Sogi conversed with the fallen man at their feet.
Moments later, Seonwoyong flicked the tip of his Victory Sage Sword near the man's face, sending a paper-thin mask fluttering into the night breeze.
Jeon Sogi caught the paper-like object, examined it, and muttered.
“Human-skin mask. Quite the craftsmanship. How did you know?”
“Indeed, fine work. But his smile looked off somehow.”
Jeon Sogi now knelt to inspect the fallen man's face.
He shook his head slowly and grumbled.
“Hmm... Guess I've wasted my years.”
“Why? Know him?”
“Yes. One of the Divine Wood Messengers serving the current cult leader. One of the boys who came to see me recently.”
Seonwoyong sighed at that.
“Oh dear. A Divine Wood Messenger. Tsk, went and killed off one of the cult's talents. Heartbreaking.”
“Truly a pity.”
“The kid had some skill, but he came at me half-heartedly. If he'd taken it properly, he might've survived.”
Seonwoyong sighed once more, raised a hand, and unleashed the Victory Sage Sword again.
Soon, a large pit formed in the ground nearby, and Seonwoyong personally placed the man's body inside.
“All my fault, Cult Leader.”
“Indeed. How did you let your tail get caught like that?”
“I thought I'd cleaned up neatly, but something must've slipped.”
“Seems so. There was a fishy scent about you two. I could overlook the nauseating poison aroma from Yukmun, that fellow, but you carried a strange animal musk.”
The two men now shoveled earth over the body of the disciple who had held the lowest rank among the Divine Wood Messengers.
Moments later, a small grave mound stood, and the two men knelt before it, performing the distinctive finger-clasped prayer of the Great Cloud Bright Religion.
“So, what are your plans now?”
Jeon Sogi asked Seonwoyong, turning from the grave.
“Simple. Retrieve the Divine Wood Token, then meet Gyeongcheon.”
Jeon Sogi asked again in a heavy voice.
“And what will you do once you meet that friend of yours?”
“Why? Worried? Afraid of father-son strife breaking out again?”
“How could I not worry? The most heartbreaking thing I've witnessed in my life was precisely that.”
Seonwoyong sighed again and replied gravely.
“Don't worry. It's the greatest regret of my life as well. It won't happen again.”
“Then you'll hand the Divine Wood Token to him?”
As Jeon Sogi watched Seonwoyong's expression carefully and asked, Seonwoyong nodded.
“That's the plan. But first, I need to see. What the current cult folk are like, what they're thinking.”
“Understood. That eases my mind greatly. Though I'm in the position of serving you, he's my friend too, isn't he?”
Seonwoyong merely nodded.
“Indeed. You two have been close since childhood.”
“If that's your will, Cult Leader, then I'll entrust my remaining life to Gyeongcheon. Will you permit it?”
“Of course. If I hand the Divine Wood Token to that boy, even I must obey his command.”
“Very well. I'll take you there soon. After sixty years of anxiety, I must deliver it to you as quickly as possible.”
“So be it.”
“Only...”
“Only what?”
“The matter in Dunhuang troubles me. Something big is about to happen.”
“Whether something big happens there or not, what concern is it of ours?”
“No, it is our concern. The Divine Wood Token is stored right next door, and the two places are secretly connected...”
At Jeon Sogi's words, Seonwoyong fell silent for a moment.
“Even if it's next door, they're distinctly separate. No major issue should arise. Who in the world would know?”
After a long silence, Seonwoyong replied thus, and Jeon Sogi nodded.
“Of course, but I can't fathom what they're thinking, pulling something like this.”
“We'll watch how things unfold. Let's head back to the inn for now.”
The two began walking slowly toward the inn.
They had endless questions and answers about past events.
They soon reached the inn's courtyard.
“So, for the time being, you'll continue as the master of the Great Cloud Merchant Group, under the name Seonwoyong?”
“Indeed. Perhaps forever. If I hand over the Divine Wood Token like this, I plan to live out my days simply as the group's master.”
Jeon Sogi nodded.
“That might truly be for the best. If you step away from cult affairs...”
“If you have ideas, come with me. Eat what you want, do what you want, live boldly—that wouldn't be so bad.”
“I'd love to. But first, I must set down this burden.”
“What about Yukmun, that fellow?”
“I'll keep him with me. I'd like to bring him along when I enter the headquarters with the Divine Wood Token.”
“So, you're ultimately saving that friend's life.”
“Come what may, he's the one good bond I formed in this life. I can't betray that until death.”
“Fine. Handle it as you see fit. I have no intention of meddling in such matters.”
With those final words, the two opened the inn's door and entered.