Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Repelling the Ambush
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Cheonhwi, who had been smiling faintly, scanned his surroundings.
The presences he sensed through his qi sense, which extended over fifty zhang in every direction.
His eyes gleamed as he counted their numbers.
Dozens of presences that had been lying in wait, holding their breath, slowly closed in like a net herding fish.
And the moment they entered striking range...
Paat!
Those who had been hiding in the bushes, biding their time, sprang into action.
As if all their preparations were finally complete.
"Now!"
With someone's shout.
Chwarak!
Chains flew in from all eight directions.
The chains slithered through the darkness like snakes indulging in the night, swiftly wrapping around Cheonhwi.
"We've got him!"
A shout came from somewhere.
"Now! Pull him in, everyone!"
In an instant, the chains grew taut.
The gazes of the attackers sharpened as they pinned down Cheonhwi's limbs, and soon...
Pat!
Those behind rushed in.
Scythes, hands, feet, swords, sabers.
As they charged with their mismatched weapons...
"This is fun."
Cheonhwi, bound head to toe in chains, looked at them with an indifferent expression.
But only for a moment.
Kwaduk!
Cheonhwi pulled his hands out from between the taut chains, grabbed them, and...
Huk!
Yanked them forcefully.
"Hup?!"
"Wh-what is this?!"
The moment the ambushers felt the pull on their hands gripping the chains, they cried out in shock.
Hwik!
Like fish hooked on a fishing line, the ambushers were dragged toward Cheonhwi.
"Dodge, dodge!"
The ones charging with weapons tangled with those pulled by the chains.
"Kuhk!"
As they collided in the middle like a knotted ball of thread and reeled from the impact...
Hwik—
Cheonhwi twisted his hand to the side.
Their bodies spun through the air before being slammed into the ground.
Kwagwagwak!
The earth was upturned, and the forest tore apart as if struck by a storm.
Geugeuk—
A moment later, as the dust clouds settled completely, the scene revealed was utterly different from before.
The verdant ground was filled with churned soil, and trees lay uprooted all around.
And scattered nearby...
"Ugh..."
...were the ambushers rolling around, vomiting blood.
The only one standing was a single person.
Cheonhwi, still wrapped in chains.
"Tough bastards."
Cheonhwi tossed aside the loosened chains as he gazed at those groaning faintly.
Kwajik!
The chains infused with inner energy fell like meteors upon those who hadn't recovered their wits.
Kwajik!
A gruesome sound erupted.
The blood from their mangled, shattered corpses soaked the chains and the dirt.
"All cleaned up."
The moment Cheonhwi released the chains...
"Urk—blegh!"
"U-ugh."
Sounds of retching rang out.
The junior disciples, having witnessed the entire scene, couldn't hold back their nausea.
And thankfully, it was just nausea.
Hwangbo Sohyeon stood there blankly, her face pale as a ghost.
The junior disciples, who had emptied their stomachs for a good while, stared in stunned horror at Cheonhwi, who remained utterly composed amid the carnage.
And among them...
Jeogal Seung-ho's eyebrows twitched.
"S-see? I was right."
"Right about what?"
Yang Se-ryeong, the most composed among the juniors, asked in response.
"Earlier, that guy walked slowly on purpose."
"To wait for the Ilwol Sect to ambush us!"
At his absurd claim, not only Yang Se-ryeong but even Paeng Cheolwi, nursing internal injuries, and the dazed Hwangbo Sohyeon frowned.
"Th-that's nonsense."
"Wait for an ambush? Does that even make sense? The Ilwol Sect is one of the Five Mad Gates, and he..."
"Why would he need to do that?"
Biting his upper lip, Jeogal Seung-ho glared with bulging eyes at their retorts.
"After seeing that level of skill, you're still saying that?"
"..."
In that instant, everyone's mouths shut.
As he said, hadn't he completely overwhelmed the Ilwol Sect?
At that moment, Hwangbo Sohyeon shuddered.
"Th-then, this was the situation he wanted?"
"...Probably."
Hwangbo Sohyeon clenched her uniform tightly.
"I-if that's the case, is following him the right choice?"
In her eyes, Cheonhwi no longer looked human.
He was a monster without equal in the world, an evil spirit of unknown origins.
As she spoke in fear...
"Hah... hah... N-no choice."
Paeng Cheolwi murmured lowly.
Gasping for breath, he clutched his chest, sweat pouring down like rain.
"If not for him... we'd already be dead. Kuhluk!"
"Young Master Paeng!"
As Paeng Cheolwi spat blood, Hwangbo Sohyeon rushed to his side and supported him.
"A-are you okay?"
"...St-still... fine."
"Don't talk now."
"It's not that bad..."
"I said don't talk!"
Emphasizing her words, Hwangbo Sohyeon grimaced, then suddenly rummaged through her bosom.
She pulled out an object.
It was a wooden case smaller than her palm.
Opening it, she took out a tiny, pure white pill inside.
"Take this. It's for internal injuries."
Paeng Cheolwi was momentarily flustered.
A rich fragrance tickled his nose, instantly calming his mind.
Even he, ignorant of spirit medicines, knew this was no ordinary remedy for internal injuries—its effects were astonishing.
"Just some internal injury pill..."
"Hurry and take it."
Hwangbo Sohyeon's eyes sharpened.
"We need you to survive, Young Master Paeng."
At her persistent urging, Paeng Cheolwi finally nodded and placed the pill in his mouth.
"I'll stand guard."
Paeng Cheolwi nodded.
Then, laboriously sitting on the ground, he slowly entered a meditative state to circulate his qi.
Hwangbo Sohyeon gazed at Paeng Cheolwi with worried eyes, clasping her hands together.
"He has to be okay..."
What she had given him was the Hwangbo family's spirit medicine, the Heavenly King Pill.
Even in the Hwangbo family, there were only ten such elixirs, yet she had handed it over without hesitation.
Jeogal Seung-ho backed away, watching the two.
'Young Master Paeng has to be safe.'
Among the group, the most skilled was undoubtedly Paeng Cheolwi.
Hwangbo Sohyeon seemed to think so too, giving him the elixir without delay.
'...But not just that.'
Jeogal Seung-ho scratched his head.
Their brief exchange had subtly shifted the atmosphere between them.
Sensing it, he kept his distance and checked on the fallen Moyong Sang's complexion.
Unlike Paeng Cheolwi, his internal injuries were severe; his face looked poor.
"Should've brought some internal injury medicine..."
He swallowed a sigh.
Sighing here would only sour the mood further.
Then Yang Se-ryeong approached.
"Are his injuries bad?"
"His qi and blood are completely disrupted."
"No internal injury meds on hand?"
"Checked his things—only golden sore medicine."
"..."
Yang Se-ryeong frowned.
On a journey through the jianghu, packing golden sore salve and elixirs was basic.
No one knew when, where, or what might happen.
"Haa."
She sighed, rummaged through her sleeve, and handed over a small wooden case similar to Hwangbo Sohyeon's.
"Give him this at least."
At her firm tone, Jeogal Seung-ho took the case and opened it.
Inside was a red internal injury pill emitting a refreshing fragrance.
"Hurry."
Under Yang Se-ryeong's subtle pressure, Jeogal Seung-ho took it out, pressed it between his palms to compress it small, and carefully trickled it into the unconscious Moyong Sang's mouth.
"U-ugh..."
Moyong Sang, lying still as a corpse, let out a groan.
At the same time, his ashen complexion began to improve slightly.
But that was it—he didn't open his eyes.
"He hasn't regained consciousness, but at least his color's coming back. That's fortunate."
Jeogal Seung-ho said with a bitter smile.
Not regaining wits wasn't good, but being alive was something.
"...Yes, fortunate."
Yang Se-ryeong exhaled in relief.
But she didn't let her guard down.
Another ambush could come anytime.
Who knew now?
Extending her qi sense to watch the surroundings, she asked Jeogal Seung-ho,
"What do we do now?"
"Let's gather everyone first and talk."
Then Yang Se-ryeong's eyes hardened.
"Young Master Jeogal."
At her ominous call, Jeogal Seung-ho swallowed dryly.
"...What is it?"
"Do you think we can hold out on our own?"
"Not a chance."
Jeogal Seung-ho declared firmly.
The enemy was the Ilwol Sect.
How could mere junior disciples like them fend them off?
Impossible.
"I see."
Yang Se-ryeong's eyes wavered.
The fear and terror from the recent ambush still lingered in her heart.
'I thought I was dead.'
She tried to stay calm, but her fingertips trembled faintly.
If not for that man leaning against the tree, she would have died.
Gazing at Cheonhwi, who sat with eyes peacefully closed, she bit her lip.
'I can't die...'
Her eyes narrowed.
Participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly was her own stubborn decision. To die because of it?
What greater filial impiety was there?
'I'll survive no matter what.'
Steel ing her resolve, Yang Se-ryeong said,
"You all go ahead."
"Where are you going...?"
Her gaze turned to Cheonhwi.
"I'll ask him for help."
Jeogal Seung-ho's eyes widened.
Even after witnessing that brutal display, her courage to try talking to him was impressive.
"Then I'll go with you."
"No. I'll go alone."
Yang Se-ryeong refused his offer.
"...Understood."
Jeogal Seung-ho looked at her, gave a wry smile, and hoisted Moyong Sang onto his back.
Turning away, he said,
"Then, I leave it to you."
As Jeogal Seung-ho departed...
"Hoo."
She steadied her breath and moved.
Meanwhile, sensing presences around, Cheonhwi turned his gaze toward the approaching Yang Se-ryeong.
Their eyes met, and she clasped her hands in a fist salute, bowing politely.
"Young hero."
"What?"
Cheonhwi replied indifferently, but Yang Se-ryeong didn't relax her tension.
He was no ordinary man.
Overwhelming martial prowess and ruthless hands.
Winning him over with ordinary words would be difficult.
"Could you help us?"
"Why should I?"
Yang Se-ryeong bit her lip.
She couldn't refute his words.
"I beg you."
Instead, she bowed deeply.
If anyone else saw this, they'd faint in shock.
She had lived a life without ever wanting for anything.
The cherished only daughter of the Divine Spear Yang family, with no shortage of beauty.
She had never bowed to a peer like this.
Yet now...
For the first time, she bowed deeply to a young man her age.
"Please help us."
What the hell is this?
Cheonhwi felt a twinge of annoyance.
He didn't care if they followed, but this begging changed things.
Especially persisting after one refusal.
As he stared at Yang Se-ryeong, his eyes gradually cooled.
Soon, his lips moved.
"...What a pain."
"Y-young hero?"
The moment she heard his icy mutter—like a warning—Yang Se-ryeong flinched in fear.
Truthfully, she knew her actions were rude.
Asking for help from a stranger.
But what could she do?
Backing off here meant certain death!
'I don't want to die. I want to live.'
Her survival instinct surging, she swallowed her fear and stared straight at Cheonhwi.
Meeting his eyes choked her breath, thick terror rising from her gut.
But she gritted her teeth and endured. Then, bowing deeply once more...
"Young hero! No, great hero! Then, could we at least travel together? Whatever you want, I'll do it. Even attend to you..."
Cheonhwi, glaring at her desperate plea, was tempted by one word.
'Attend to me? Hmm, it's been inconvenient without Jeokgeom and Seollan lately.'
For a moment, Cheonhwi's gaze shifted to her, then to the group gathered beyond.
Finally, his mouth slowly opened.
"Can you cook?"
"C-cook?"
At the unexpected question, Yang Se-ryeong startled but nodded vigorously.
"I can."
"Good. Then travel with me."
"R-really?"
Yang Se-ryeong's face lit up.
"But do it properly."
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
As she flinched under his cold gaze, he added,
"You know what happens if you don't?"