Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Reinforcements for Ilhwa Gate
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As Cheonhwi returned to his residence.
"You're finally back?"
"Senior Brother. You're here?"
Shinui and Dam Mokrin greeted him.
Cheonhwi glanced at the two of them before picking up the two swords placed in one corner of the residence.
Startled by his sudden move to grab his swords, Shinui and Dam Mokrin asked.
"You aren't heading out again, are you?"
"Senior Brother, not again?"
"I've got a mission."
"How long has it even been since you got back, and you're off on another mission already..."
"Even for you, Senior Brother, another mission..."
As the two were about to shout something.
Srulk―
Cheonhwi unfurled his Dark Fragrance Token and departed.
He slipped out of the residence so swiftly that by the time he reached the sect gate, the two were already waiting.
It was Jeokun and Jugo Yul.
"We've been waiting, Martial Uncle."
"We appreciate your help."
Jugo Yul looked at Cheonhwi with shining eyes and offered a respectful cupped-fist salute.
"Sure."
Jugo Yul's throat bobbed noticeably.
He looked so young, yet Jeokun and the Sect Leader were convinced that as long as he was there, Ilhwa Gate would be safe.
'What kind of skills does he possess...'
At that moment.
Tadadak―
Two people came running up.
A man and a woman, both carrying large bundles on their backs. Upon seeing them, Jugo Yul flinched.
'Why are Daoists dressed like that...'
Their conditions were poor.
The man's one eye was swollen shut, as if he couldn't see a thing.
And the woman?
She was a beautiful woman, but her hands, neck, and nape—uncovered by her Daoist robes—bore clear bruises.
'...This trio will be alright?'
As a seed of doubt sprouted in Jugo Yul's chest upon seeing the two.
"Martial Uncle."
"We've completed all preparations."
The man and woman, Jeokgeom and Seollan, stood before Cheonhwi and readjusted their bundles.
"Quick on your feet."
Cheonhwi said approvingly.
Ever since entering the Plum Blossom Seven Halls, the two's attitudes had changed slightly from before.
Cheonhwi grinned.
'You really need to feel the crisis to grow.'
Until just recently, Jeokgeom and Seollan had been insufferably arrogant.
It made sense—they had no equals among the second-generation disciples for a long time, and after consuming the Platinum Pill, their internal energy had grown too.
They must have felt like they owned the world.
But not anymore.
They had realized their own shortcomings after seeing Cheonhyang and Dam Mokrin.
Cheonhyang's overwhelmingly superior skills.
And Dam Mokrin rapidly catching up—they had witnessed it firsthand.
Only then did they face reality.
They still had a long way to go.
Cheonhwi smiled, seeing the renewed fire in their eyes.
"You've realized your training was lacking, right?"
"We've felt it to our bones."
"We got drunk on the Platinum Pill and forgot that internal energy isn't everything."
"Good, you're coming to your senses. Now go fill those gaps."
Jeokgeom and Seollan didn't fully grasp what Cheonhwi meant, but they nodded anyway.
"Understood."
"Yes, got it."
Cheonhwi looked satisfied at their responses.
Then he turned to Jugo Yul.
"Alright, let's head out."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The coast of Shaanxi.
It had always been overflowing with people coming and going to sightsee the numerous ancient ruins...
But now, the streets along the coast were eerily cold and quiet.
The reason was simple.
Ferocious warriors armed with swords, sabers, spears, and the like were strutting through the streets.
"This is practically a warzone."
Cheonhwi smirked as he arrived at the coast and observed the people roaming the streets.
The warriors glared at each other threateningly, never letting their guard down, ready to strike at any moment.
The atmosphere was so tense that even a slight shoulder bump could spark a knife fight, blanketing the entire street.
'No wonder they're in a hurry.'
As Cheonhwi understood Jugo Yul's feelings.
"Those bastards again..."
Jugo Yul bit his lower lip.
He had felt relieved arriving in just five days thanks to their haste, but the situation had worsened since they left.
'Now they've taken over the streets.'
The Yeonan he knew wasn't like this.
It used to overflow with people coming and going, laughing and chatting merrily...
Now, not a trace remained.
The laughing, chatting folk had hunkered down at home, terrified of the outside, watching the new occupiers' every move.
The host and guest had completely transposed.
'It's fine. We haven't arrived too late. We can return to how it was.'
Jugo Yul stared at Jeokgeom, Seollan, and Cheonhwi.
'With them here...'
As he swallowed his anger.
"To think Yeonan has come to this..."
Jeokgeom sighed beside him.
He had visited Yeonan a few times while helping with the Nonwind Merchant Group's affairs in the past.
He never imagined it would turn out like this.
"It's dire."
Seollan wrinkled her nose bridge too.
They hadn't even entered the street yet, but the killing intent pierced their bodies.
If she felt this way, what about those without martial arts?
She gazed pityingly at those hiding in their homes, holding their breath.
"Martial Uncle."
"Yeah."
Cheonhwi agreed with her.
"That's why we're here."
He then asked Jugo Yul, who was suppressing his rage.
"Where's Ilhwa Gate?"
"Follow me."
As Jugo Yul stepped into the street, glaring at the roamers.
"That's one of Ilhwa Gate's..."
"Him!"
"...Mount Hua Sect?"
All eyes focused on them.
Especially those ferociously prowling—they flinched at the sight of Mount Hua Sect Daoist robes and stepped back slightly.
'As expected of Mount Hua Sect!'
Jugo Yul felt a surge of satisfaction.
These were the ones who had been oozing killing intent, ready to cause trouble the moment he appeared.
Now they were retreating.
'Good call asking for help.'
Jugo Yul's steps grew more confident.
Some scowled and glared at him, but that was it.
Seeing the Daoists in Mount Hua Sect robes, they parted to the sides, clearing a path.
Continuing on, the group soon reached Ilhwa Gate.
"...This is it?"
Cheonhwi furrowed his brow.
Ilhwa Gate's condition was poor.
The main gate was smashed, as if from multiple battles, and faint groans echoed from within.
"Yes."
Jugo Yul smiled bitterly in response.
"Please wait here a moment."
With that, he rushed through the broken gate, shouting loudly.
"Father!"
Someone came stumbling out from inside toward Jugo Yul.
It was Ilhwa Gate Lord Ju Song.
"G-Goyul? Is that you?!"
Seeing Jugo Yul, his legs gave way, and he staggered.
"F-Father! Are you alright?"
But as Jugo Yul approached, he grabbed him by the collar and bellowed.
"You brat! Where have you been?!"
"Th-That is..."
"I thought those bastards had killed you after you vanished!"
Ilhwa Gate Lord bit his lip hard.
Otherwise, tears would pour out right then.
Seeing tears welling in his father's eyes, Jugo Yul's nose stung.
"...I'm sorry."
Ilhwa Gate Lord released his collar upon seeing Jugo Yul bow his head and spoke.
"...Fine. Where were you?"
"I went to Mount Hua Sect."
"M-Mount Hua Sect?!"
Ilhwa Gate Lord jumped.
"Why go that far?"
"To ask for help."
"What are you doing?! You know how busy Mount Hua Sect is right now, stirring up such trouble..."
"Father! Is that what's important now?!"
This time, Jugo Yul shouted.
Truth be told, it wasn't that Ilhwa Gate Lord hadn't gone to Mount Hua Sect before.
He simply chose not to.
In the past, to repay the grace of the Void Immortal who saved him, he had fulfilled his duties as a secular branch sect.
He saw it as his obligation.
Thus, he extremely disliked reaching out to Mount Hua Sect for such matters.
But Jugo Yul's stance differed.
As a secular branch of Mount Hua Sect, what was wrong with borrowing their power?
Besides.
"Our sect's disciples' lives are at stake. Are you going to pretend not to see just because you don't want to owe Mount Hua Sect more?"
Ilhwa Gate was precious to him.
Ilhwa Gate Lord turned his head and said.
"...We can handle it with our own power."
"Is that why it's like this now?"
As the father-son argument intensified.
"Hm, the situation's worse than I thought."
A low voice came.
Ilhwa Gate Lord turned in surprise.
Outside the broken main gate stood three men and women in Mount Hua Sect robes.
'Those tassels...'
His eyes widened.
The plum blossom tassels on the swords at the man and woman's waists were worn only by Plum Blossom Sword Guards.
"...You've come from Mount Hua Sect."
"That's right."
Cheonhwi stepped inside with a smile.
Ilhwa Gate Lord was puzzled by the youth entering ahead of the Plum Blossom Sword Guards.
Then the Sword Guards followed.
"Amitabha. Jeokgeom of Mount Hua Sect."
"Amitabha. Seollan."
Ilhwa Gate Lord hurriedly returned their cupped-fist salutes.
"I am Ju Song, Lord of Ilhwa Gate."
At that moment, Cheonhwi surveyed the surroundings.
Ilhwa Gate Lord quickly sized him up.
'One followed by Plum Blossom Sword Guards.'
His gaze swiftly shifted to the waist.
But the two swords there bore no tassels.
'...Someone I've never seen before.'
Even a year ago, when he visited Mount Hua Sect, he hadn't seen such a figure.
"Young hero, what is your Daoist name?"
"Cheonhwi."
As Cheonhwi tossed out casually.
'Heavenly Generation?'
Ilhwa Gate Lord gasped and swallowed hard.
A Heavenly Generation disciple was one of Mount Hua Sect's prime second-generation disciples, soon to shoulder the sect's future.
'At that young age?'
Ilhwa Gate Lord hastily offered a cupped-fist salute.
"We welcome you to our humble sect."
As he greeted, he smiled bitterly.
A Heavenly Generation Daoist and Plum Blossom Sword Guards coming to aid was a great blessing, but the current circumstances were far from ideal.
"I apologize for not being able to welcome you properly given the poor situation."
"I'm a bit disappointed by that too."
Cheonhwi didn't mince words with pleasantries.
He had come all the way to Ilhwa Gate partly to sightsee and enjoy himself.
But that seemed unlikely now.
"Can't be helped."
"My apologies."
Ilhwa Gate Lord bowed his head.
Cheonhwi looked at him and spoke.
"More importantly, which group is targeting Ilhwa Gate right now?"
"...You intend to fight?"
Cheonhwi's lips twisted at the question.
"Gotta crush them quick."
"Cr-Crush them?"
Ilhwa Gate Lord blurted in bewilderment.
Not only was the word unbefitting a Daoist, but the intent behind it was absurd too.
"...It'll be tough with just three."
Cheonhwi smirked.
"No need to worry about that."
"B-But they're dangerous."
"Them?"
Cheonhwi's eyes curved.
"More than one group, huh."
Ilhwa Gate Lord furrowed his brow.
The newly established sects in Yeonan recently numbered more than one or two.
"Three in total."
"Perfect."
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
"Where are those three?"
"Well..."
Ilhwa Gate Lord trailed off.
No matter that Mount Hua Sect had sent Plum Blossom Sword Guards, it was still too much for them alone.
'Mount Hua Sect, which just lost so many Sword Guards, making more sacrifices...'
As he hesitated to speak.
"Black Tiger Gang, Ghost Liu Sect, and Saoheung Fortress."
Jugo Yul answered in his stead.
"Goyul!"
Ilhwa Gate Lord snapped, but.
"Good."
Cheonhwi was pleased.
Since they were here, settling it quickly would ease his mind.
"You know where they are?"
"Of course."
"Then let's start with the closest one."