Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: 화산천마 (127)화
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Half-Moon Shadows
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In an instant, Paeng Cheolwi's face turned icy cold.
Not just him.
The faces of his companions all crumpled up.
The atmosphere rapidly cooled.
But trot-trot—
Cheonhwi followed the remaining waiter, paying no mind to whether they watched or not.
“...!”
“That bastard!”
“Does he even know who we are?!”
As the later-generation disciples' expressions twisted like ferocious demons—having not even given his name and now ignoring them outright—
“Judging by how you're traveling without even servants... it must be time for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
Yeorae Singwon steered the conversation to disperse their fury.
And the tactic succeeded immediately.
Paeng Cheolwi shifted his glare from the swaggering Cheonhwi and nodded.
“That's right.”
“Time flies, doesn't it? The last Dragon-Phoenix Gathering feels like it was just the other day.”
Yeorae Singwon swept his gaze over the later-generation disciples.
Normally, they would travel with servants, but not this time.
Dragon-Phoenix Gathering!
The camaraderie event exclusively for later-generation disciples, hosted directly by the Bicheon Association, operated solely with them from the start.
It was the Bicheon Association's intent to forge bonds and gain jianghu experience among themselves.
“You'll have your work cut out for you.”
“It's all groundwork. Besides, when else would we get to tour the jianghu just among ourselves?”
“Fair point. So, where is this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering being held...”
Meanwhile, heedless of their chatter, Cheonhwi gulped down the last of his alcohol.
'Time to head out, then?'
As he prepared to leave.
“Weren't you on your way to the Nine Dragons Gang?”
He froze at the sudden snippet of conversation.
Nine Dragons Gang? The rumors had already spread?
Already curious about how it had ended for them, Cheonhwi halted his departure and tuned into their talk.
As if responding to him, Yeorae Singwon asked Paeng Cheolwi.
“Going to the Nine Dragons Gang? What do you mean?”
Paeng Cheolwi tilted his head.
“Didn't Elder come to Shaanxi over the Nine Dragons Gang matter?”
“I came for other business.”
“What business...”
“Never mind that—what exactly happened there?”
Yeorae Singwon asked urgently, sensing something amiss.
Paeng Cheolwi hesitated briefly before replying.
“Word is the Nine Dragons Gang leader killed Qinghai Province's Inspector and fled... total chaos.”
“...?!”
Yeorae Singwon's pupils shook.
Qinghai Province's Inspector was a high-ranking government official.
'The Nine Dragons Gang leader killed the Inspector and fled...?'
Faced with an unbelievable fact, Yeorae Singwon swallowed hard before speaking.
“Is... is that true?”
His voice trembled.
If true, the government could intervene directly.
“I hear the government and Murim Alliance are investigating the Nine Dragons Gang right now.”
“It can't be...”
Cheonhwi's lips curved upward.
Larger scale than anticipated, but things were progressing smoothly.
'No need to keep tabs anymore.'
As a satisfied expression formed—
Creak—
Yeorae Singwon shot to his feet.
He then clasped his hands toward Paeng Cheolwi.
“Thank you for informing me.”
“N-no, it's nothing.”
As Paeng Cheolwi flustered at the sudden courtesy, Yeorae Singwon turned to his monk disciples.
“Let's head to the Nine Dragons Gang at once.”
“Amitabha.”
“Understood.”
The monks rose one by one, hurriedly preparing to depart.
“Ah!”
Yeorae Singwon asked Cheonhwi.
“Young hero, do you have somewhere to go?”
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
A destination.
Nothing pressing right now, but.
'Still, Qinghai Province is a must, right?'
Even with the aftermath handled and the Hao Clan on it, there was the Sect Leader's assignment.
Better to at least show his face.
“I do.”
“Why not travel together?”
Along with the words, Yeorae Singwon sent a secret transmission.
『As long as you're with us, the Sun-Moon Sect won't attack.』
It was a plan he'd mulled over deeply.
No matter how bold the Sun-Moon Sect, they wouldn't dare act rashly.
Not unless they were prepared for all-out war.
Cheonhwi replied firmly to the worried-looking Yeorae Singwon.
“No. I'm fine.”
He was actually hoping for an ambush.
It was a chance to witness demonic arts, and if they came on their own, no need to bother tracking down the Sun-Moon Sect for a confrontation.
Two birds with one stone!
Unaware of this, Yeorae Singwon gave a wry smile.
'Alas, what a shame.'
Only bittersweet feelings swirled over the jianghu prodigy caught in dire straits.
Yeorae Singwon clasped his hands.
“Amitabha. Please visit our mountain later.”
Perhaps sensing it might be their last meeting, his low voice carried weight.
Come to Shaolin.
In other words, survive to meet again.
“I will.”
Cheonhwi nodded.
He'd visit Shaolin someday regardless.
'Gotta see their arts.'
How impressive must they be for the saying, All the world's martial arts hail from Shaolin?
Their indestructible qigong, fist arts, palm techniques, staff methods, and more.
He couldn't miss the chance to witness them.
“...We'll be off first.”
With that, Yeorae Singwon thanked Paeng Cheolwi once more and exited the inn with his monks.
Meanwhile, the later-generation disciples gazed at Cheonhwi with complex expressions.
'Who the hell is that guy?'
'Even Elder Yeorae Singwon personally invited him along.'
'Who is he?'
'Murim Alliance...?'
'No way to tell.'
At that moment, Cheonhwi rose from his seat.
Flinch!
The later-generation disciples tensed at his sudden movement, going on guard.
But Cheonhwi ignored their awkward stances and left the inn.
'To get to Qinghai Province, I need to loop back toward Shaanxi first...'
Walking the official road, Cheonhwi turned his steps.
'Gotta skirt around Mount Hua Sect.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With Qinghai Province as his destination, Cheonhwi's footsteps were endlessly light and leisurely.
There was no need to rush at all.
The Nine Dragons Gang matter seemed handled per plan, and the Little Princess group had been handed to the Hao Clan—smooth sailing.
Now he just needed to show up in person.
'Might as well tour the Central Plains along the way.'
Cheonhwi strolled the westward official road, savoring the surroundings.
“Hm...”
He stopped upon spotting a lavish inn.
Sightseeing was fine, but more importantly.
“It's mealtime first.”
Cheonhwi promptly turned and entered the inn.
Moments later.
Cheonhwi gulped down his baekyeopcheong, then tore into a duck leg and popped it in his mouth.
'That's the stuff!'
As the juices flooded his mouth, his chewing sped up.
'No point chasing immortal peach groves for a hundred days. This is the real deal.'
Scoffing at the Taoists' endless prattle, he slurped the soup.
As he savored the duck stew.
“Still a long way to go.”
“But isn't this nice?”
“Young Master Mo Yong is right. When else can we roam freely like this?”
Familiar voices drifted from nearby.
He turned unconsciously—and there were those familiar faces.
The ones from a few days back, the Nine Dragons Five Phoenixes or whatever.
“Shaanxi has plenty of sights to see this...”
The chattering youth's words cut off abruptly as his eyes met Cheonhwi's.
“Young Master Mo Yong, what's wrong?”
The robustly beautiful woman followed his rigid gaze and froze.
“That guy's...”
Seeing their group's expressions sour one by one, Cheonhwi smirked and looked away.
Their lively chatter resumed.
'This meal was solid too.'
Finishing up shortly after, Cheonhwi left the inn and continued down the road.
And the next day.
Having left the mountains behind and arrived in Lin County, Cheonhwi wandered the bustling streets—only to run into them again.
“Again...?”
“I definitely took a detour...”
The later-generation disciples let out disbelieving laughs at the absurdity.
Three meetings in two days.
No coincidence like it.
After a short while, Cheonhwi and they parted ways once more.
Ten days into the journey.
At his original pace, he'd have reached Mount Shao Hua by now.
But Cheonhwi still hadn't advanced beyond southern Shaanxi.
Partly from detouring Mount Hua, but mostly from touring every historic site and landmark he'd read about in ancient texts—time-consuming indeed.
'Just over this mountain and it's Yan'an.'
As Cheonhwi began climbing the mountain path to exit southern Shaanxi into Yan'an County.
Drip, drip.
Raindrops began falling one by one.
'Knew those clouds rolling in meant business.'
Cheonhwi quickened his pace slightly as drops hit his shoulders and head.
That instant.
Whoosh!
Rain poured down like a hole had ripped open in the sky.
'Should've grabbed an umbrella.'
To evade it, Cheonhwi unleashed his lightness skill and dashed ahead.
Fortune smiled: midway up the path stood a dilapidated shack.
'Hm?'
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed upon sensing presences inside.
Familiar ones he'd crossed paths with several times.
'Shelter from the rain first.'
He kicked off from the puddle-strewn ground.
His form shot forward, slicing through the downpour to reach the shack.
Stepping inside.
“Hm?”
“You?”
Cheonhwi glanced at the awkward-faced later-generation disciples, moved to the opposite side, and shook off the water.
Then lightly circulated his internal energy.
Sizzle—
His thoroughly soaked clothes dried in an instant, fluffy as new.
'Dried nicely.'
Having displayed astonishing energy control in a mere moment, Cheonhwi plopped down on the floor.
As he leaned against the wall.
'Well now?'
His eyes narrowed at the shift outside.
Not one or two—dozens of presences approaching with eerie silence.
Far too slow for mere rain shelter.
And the seeping killing intent proved they came with ill intent.
'Coming right to me, huh?'
Cheonhwi grinned and leaned back.
Calmly waiting.
For the attack they'd bring.
'No hassle tracking them down—perfect.'
Meanwhile, the later-generation disciples who'd arrived first struggled to hide their shock.
“How did he dry his clothes just now...”
“Samadhi True Fire?”
“But can Samadhi True Fire alone dry clothes like that? You'd need at least the Boundless Realm...”
“Can you do it, Young Master Paeng?”
“I can. But not in such a short time.”
At Paeng Cheolwi's words, everyone's eyes hardened.
He was the only one among them with the "Dragon" moniker.
If even he found it taxing...
“Not an ordinary fellow.”
“No wonder Elder Yeorae Singwon invited him along.”
Their gazes toward Cheonhwi shifted.
They'd pegged him as rude before, but he was clearly no ordinary man.
Then.
“We keep running into each other.”
The mild-featured youth, Jeon Gal Seung Ho, spoke calmly, unsurprised.
“Fourth time already, right?”
At Jeon Gal Seung Ho's words, they all stared at Cheonhwi awkwardly.
First: the Mount Heng North inn.
Second: the roadside inn.
Third: on the road.
And now the fourth.
Far too frequent for coincidence.
Yet calling it no coincidence didn't fit—his behavior was pure disregard throughout.
“Overlapping routes, maybe?”
Suddenly, Paeng Cheolwi raised a hand and whispered softly.
“...Everyone feel that?”
Paeng Cheolwi whispered low.
His eyes rapidly scanned around before settling into a cold expression.
“Enemies.”
“...!”
At his words, they all startled and exchanged sharp glances.
And simultaneously.
Swish!
Paeng Cheolwi snatched up his greatsword beside him, while Jeon Gal Seung Ho drew a folding fan from his robes to scan the surroundings.
That instant.
Whizz!
Hidden weapons rained in from all directions.
Yang Se-ryeong, gripping her triple staff, shielded the still-clueless Hwang Bo So-hyeon and shouted.
“So-hyeon! Get it together!”
Only then did Hwang Bo So-hyeon grasp the situation and reach for her gauntlets—
“Where?!”
Paeng Cheolwi hurled himself in front of them, swinging his massive blade in a wide arc.
Whoooosh!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Five Tigers Door Severing Blade First Roar Wind Born
The sweeping technique robbed the incoming darts of momentum, sending them clattering to the ground.
“Whew.”
As Paeng Cheolwi exhaled in relief at fending off the ambush—
“The Paeng Family's Five Tigers Door Severing Blade.”
A chilling voice rang out.
As ten men appeared simultaneously, Mo Yong Sang cried out in shock.
“Th-that attire?!”
Black-and-white contrasting uniforms.
Hero bandanas bearing half-moons.
These two marked symbols of terror in the jianghu.
“Half-Moon Party!”
“Why the Half-Moon Party?!”
The other later-generation disciples broke into cold sweats, stunned.
The Half-Moon Party was the Sun-Moon Sect's most infamous enforcer group.
Not because they were the strongest.
Stronger forces existed in the Sun-Moon Sect.
But their infamy stemmed from ruthlessness too gruesome to witness and a mad fanaticism that feared not even death.
“What in the world...”
“The Half-Moon Party ambushing us?”
As the later-generation disciples reeled in confusion at the unexpected Sun-Moon Sect assault—
“A bit late, but you showed up.”
The ambush's actual target, Cheonhwi, eyed the surrounding attackers and slowly rose.
“From the Sun-Moon Sect?”
“...You don't recognize us?”
“Nope.”
The Half-Moon Party members scowled.
Folks usually quaked in terror at their sight, yet this punk stayed nonchalant.
“So calm against the Half-Moon Party...”
“Daring to pull that stunt...”
Likewise, the later-generation disciples gaped at Cheonhwi in disbelief.
No jianghu warrior worth their salt wouldn't know the Half-Moon Party.
But the truly ignorant Cheonhwi simply asked them.
“So, Sun-Moon Sect or not?”
“That what you're wondering?”
“Obviously.”
“Why?”
“They're the ones who need to show up right now.”
The Half-Moon Party stared at him in bewilderment.
Utterly baffling words—they just gawked.
Soon, his pursed lips parted with a sinister smile.
“If you're not Sun-Moon Sect, I'd have to go all the way there myself.”
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