Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: Roadside Challenge
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Clack-clack— Clack-clack—
The carriage carrying Cheonhwi and Danmokrin sped along the official road after leaving the Jeon clan residence.
Was it because the path was bumpy?
The carriage jolted and shook from time to time, but inside, it remained utterly silent, without a single sound.
The reason was simple.
Cheonhwi had his eyes gently closed, immersed in meditation.
'Looking forward to the day we meet again.'
His meeting with Paegun had been brief.
Two face-to-face encounters, a few words exchanged.
That was all.
But it was enough.
'To get to know him, that is.'
The corners of Cheonhwi's lips, which had been rigidly set, curved up ever so slightly.
Since starting his new life, he had crossed swords with quite a few masters, but none had satisfied him.
Not even during his life-or-death duel with the White Four Saints, called the hegemon of an era, nor in his bout with the Jongnam Sword Saint, the top expert of Jongnam.
Of course, those two were exceptional masters, even compared to the ones he had met in his previous life—countable on one hand.
But that was it.
In the end, they had remained at the Cheonmu realm, unable to step into the transcendence beyond.
Paegun, however, was different.
His level, his martial prowess, his very existence.
He was an unparalleled expert of the Cheonoecheon realm, transcending the heavens of martial arts called Cheonmu.
'Right. After three hundred years, it wouldn't make sense if there weren't experts of that caliber.'
The slowly rising corners of his mouth formed a full arc, soon completing into a rich smile.
A smile filled with interest and fervor.
'I need to regain my previous life's prowess before he arrives at Mount Hua.'
Cheonhwi hurriedly scanned his body.
His mind's eye instantly emerged, sweeping through every corner of his body.
Thanks to overcoming the Yin-Yang Tai Chi Severed Meridians, his physique was impeccably sturdy.
'Seems like all physical growth is complete now.'
His mind's eye turned toward his lower dantian.
The amount of internal energy couldn't be said to be greater than that of other Cheonmu-realm experts, but thanks to accumulating only the purest energy in the world through the supreme profound art, the Plum Blossom Divine Gong...
Its quality was distinctly different.
He could overwhelm opponents with less internal energy than theirs.
If others had examined it, they might have been shocked enough to drop their jaws.
'So what's left is enlightenment.'
Beyond the Cheonmu realm to the Absolute realm.
To reach what they called the Martial God realm required a great enlightenment.
An enlightenment regarding the Plum Blossom Divine Gong, specifically.
It wasn't easy.
The Plum Blossom Divine Gong was a technique he had personally created, its depths unfathomable.
No, it was questionable if it even had an end.
'Well, it'll work out as I go.'
But Cheonhwi was confident.
He had already stepped into that realm once before, and his mind brimmed with countless martial arts.
The thought of failure didn't cross his mind.
'For now, let's focus slowly.'
Having scanned his body, Cheonhwi delved into even deeper contemplation.
All the way to that bottomless abyss.
Meanwhile, Danmokrin, who had been watching Cheonhwi lost in deep thought with a pleased expression, suddenly stiffened.
'This is...'
Her fingertips trembled faintly.
Her sharp and exquisitely sensitive qi sense had picked up the change in the deeply contemplative Cheonhwi.
It was such a subtle shift that one might miss it without close scrutiny.
At that moment.
Swooooosh—
From Cheonhwi emanated an energy clearer and purer than any in the world.
Would the legendary pure blue jade oil be like this?
As the incredibly clear and pristine energy flowed out, enveloping the carriage, Danmokrin found herself staring at Cheonhwi with dazed eyes, unbeknownst to herself.
Even as Danmokrin felt entranced, the energy continued to spread.
Before long, it wasn't content with merely engulfing the carriage—it expanded vastly enough to immerse everything.
Like the great ocean itself.
'Senior Brother is doing this...?'
As bewilderment replaced the daze in her eyes.
Neighhh—
The carriage jolted to a halt.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Go Sam's angry voice rang out.
Two horses and their riders had suddenly blocked the road. He had been about to shout in fury but paused.
"You all..."
At that moment, a young man leaped nimbly from his horse and bowed deeply with utmost courtesy.
"Sorry for blocking the road so suddenly."
Danmokrin, who had been peering out at the commotion, flinched.
'This voice?'
She hurriedly stuck her head out.
'Grandfather and Big Brother?!'
There, Danmokchan and the Iron Heart Sword Elder were staring at the carriage window.
As Danmokrin's eyes widened.
Sneer—
Danmokchan spotted her too, his eyes bulging wide as he strode toward her purposefully.
"Little Rin. Could we talk for a moment?"
"...Right now?"
Danmokrin showed a troubled expression and glanced at Cheonhwi opposite her.
At that moment, Cheonhwi's lips moved.
"If you have something to say, make it quick."
With those words, he slowly lifted his eyelids, meeting Danmokrin's gaze directly.
"But finish it fast."
Danmokrin flashed a bright smile.
"Yes."
She then stepped out of the carriage.
Soon, she and Danmokchan entered a nearby thicket and disappeared from view.
"He noticed that? His talent is truly one of a kind."
Cheonhwi recalled the scene from moments ago.
The internal energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Gong was the purest and most natural in the world.
Thus, when simply leaking it like this, ordinary martial artists wouldn't sense it even up close—but she had detected it.
'And not only that, she harmonized with it.'
It was an astonishing affinity.
And that affinity would greatly aid her in transcending realms in the future.
"She could be called the world's greatest prodigy."
Cheonhwi muttered while stroking his chin, then turned his gaze aside.
By the carriage, pressed right against the window and peering in at him, was someone.
"What's the matter?"
"Just wanted to see your face."
The Iron Heart Sword Elder smiled softly.
"Your Taoist name is Cheonhwi, was it?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"A fine Taoist name."
Cheonhwi chuckled.
"So, what do you want to say?"
At the direct question, the Iron Heart Sword Elder's drooping eyebrows twitched dramatically.
"Haha, quite bold, aren't you."
Bursting into laughter, he released the reins and lightly dismounted.
'Nimble movements.'
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
From that series of actions, he could faintly discern the type of martial arts he usually employed.
One Sword, Certain Kill.
Likely a swift sword specialist who took lives in a single stroke.
And true to that, his movements were lightning-fast yet exceedingly cautious.
"I've thought it odd ever since the Paegun hero came to see you..."
His aura sharpened as he spoke.
"You're strong."
"Pretty much."
Cheonhwi nodded in agreement.
"But how did you figure it out?"
"Truth be told, I'm not entirely certain even now. Just a vague sense."
"Everyone in the Danmok family has sharp qi sense, huh."
"Haha, the Danmok family's qi sense is sharp, but regrettably, I'm not a Danmok. Merely a guest."
"That's strange. You seemed like a Danmok family member to me."
"Is that how I appeared in your eyes?"
A smile rose on his lips.
It was brighter and more innocent than any smile he had shown before.
After smiling for a moment, he spoke.
"Mind if we talk for a bit?"
Cheonhwi stared straight at him.
His pupils were hard to see beneath his white eyebrows, but Cheonhwi felt the glint in his eyes.
A chilling, razor-sharp force.
Not killing intent, nor sharpness.
It emanated from his very existence—no, it clung to his life like a thick aura of murderous malice.
'This guy's an incredible slaughter ghost.'
A smile spread across Cheonhwi's lips.
How fascinating.
Such benevolence hiding this much brutality.
"Sure."
With that reply, Cheonhwi stepped down from the carriage.
"Much obliged."
The Iron Heart Sword Elder smiled.
A very benevolent smile.
But to Cheonhwi's eyes, it looked like a mask that didn't suit him at all.
At that moment, the Iron Heart Sword Elder glanced at Go Sam.
Sensing something in that gaze, Go Sam jumped down from the driver's seat.
"It might take a while to talk. Mind if I feed the horses in the meantime?"
Without taking his eyes off the Iron Heart Sword Elder, Cheonhwi responded.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
Go Sam immediately led the horses away.
Soon, only the two remained by the carriage.
"Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Jonggak."
Quietly stating his name, Jonggak unbound his hands behind his back and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for saving Rin."
He slowly raised his head.
His eyes, looking at Cheonhwi, brimmed with immeasurable gratitude.
"Thanks to you, that child can smile again."
"If you're that grateful, give me something later as thanks?"
Jonggak furrowed his brow.
"Didn't Rin already give you something?"
"That's that, and this is this."
At the shameless remark, Jonggak unwittingly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, alright. I'll send something separately later."
After laughing heartily, Jonggak changed the subject.
"Impressive, though. To possess such prowess at your age is astonishing enough, but to also wield medical skills surpassing even the Divine Physician."
"The Divine Physician elder is the superior one in medicine."
Cheonhwi spoke plainly.
Treating Danmokrin had relied on his knowledge of martial arts and constitutions; in true medical arts, the Divine Physician far outshone him.
"A true master is a true master."
Not knowing the details, Jonggak took it as humility and smiled warmly. And then.
"What do you mean no? Of course not!"
Danmokchan stormed over, fuming.
He yelled at Cheonhwi, leaning against the carriage, with a face full of frustration.
"Little Taoist!"
At the booming call, Cheonhwi showed an annoyed expression and stared at him.
"What?"
"Spar with me!"
To the thunderous voice, Cheonhwi picked his ear nonchalantly and replied indifferently.
"Why should I?"
Not having expected refusal, Danmokchan bit his lower lip hard.
"Are you scared and dodging?"
Cheonhwi chuckled.
It was a childish provocation.
He was about to ignore it when.
"If you're not too busy, how about a spar?"
Jonggak interjected.
Oh ho.
Cheonhwi's lips slowly twisted.
"Hm, I'll do it, sure."
"Any requests?"
Cheonhwi looked straight into Jonggak's eyes.
"If you spar with me too, elder, then yes."
"With me?"
"Yes."
Jonggak's eyebrows shot up dramatically.
Soon, he burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha, excellent."
Hearing the reply, Cheonhwi turned to Danmokchan and said.
"What are you waiting for? Let's get on with it."
Danmokchan was dumbfounded but quickly spun around and spoke.
"Follow me."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A short while later, the two faced each other in a nearby clearing.
"No spar with Grandfather today."
Danmokchan continued, eyes flashing.
"You'll fall to me first."
To Danmokchan's resounding voice, Cheonhwi opened his mouth with an annoyed look.
"Got it. Let's just do this quick."
Irked by Cheonhwi's irritated attitude, Danmokchan scowled.
But only briefly. He hardened his face, took a few steps back to create distance.
'For Rin to fall for a bonehead like this!'
His eyes quickly scanned Cheonhwi.
Handsome face, sure.
But that was it—his personality, his behavior, everything rubbed him wrong.
'I'll expose your pathetic side and peel the beans from Rin's eyes.'
Danmokchan glared at him with firm resolve.
Meanwhile, at a distance, Danmokrin and Jonggak watched the pair.
"I should stop Big Brother..."
Danmokrin muttered restlessly.
'If only he hadn't brought up Senior Brother...'
Danmokchan had proposed the spar out of wounded pride after failing to persuade Danmokrin to return home.
It was essentially venting frustration.
Then Jonggak smiled.
"Don't you trust Chan?"
At the question, Danmokrin looked troubled.
"I trust Big Brother, but Senior Brother is..."
Unable to bluntly say Danmokchan would lose, she hemmed and hawed when.
"Tsk tsk, picking a fight with who now."
A tongue-clicking sound came from between them.
Danmokrin looked aside in surprise.
There, Cheon Yi-gae sat on a nearby rock, a liquor bottle in his mouth.
"Eh, Elder?"
Danmokrin called out in astonishment, but Cheon Yi-gae didn't even glance her way.
He just watched the two preparing and spoke.
"Not going to stop them?"
Cheon Yi-gae chided.
"That guy's in for quite the ugly sight."
Danmokrin tried to say something, but Jonggak replied first.
"I know."
"Then why not stop it?"
"I think this is a chance to curb Chan's excessive confidence."
"What if it breaks him so badly he never recovers?"
Cheon Yi-gae teased.
"Chan isn't that fragile."
Jonggak didn't waver.
Cheon Yi-gae, losing interest, tossed his empty bottle aside.
"Hmph! What a boring guy."
"When were you ever entertained?"
"Your first time out in the jianghu was fun. I still remember you trembling at your first kill."
"Ancient history."
"True enough."
Jonggak smiled faintly.
"Time has flown. Never imagined back then we'd end up enemies with the hero like this."
"Who would have?"
Both let out bitter smiles simultaneously.
"But it was inevitable."
"Indeed."
The two gazed wistfully at the sky.
'Grandfather and the elder knew each other?'
As Danmokrin alternated surprised glances between their unexpectedly close demeanor.
"I'll yield the first move!"
Danmokchan shouted, sword raised.
His confident voice drew a smirk from Cheonhwi as he drew his scabbard.
"Fine by me."
Danmokchan's eyes sharpened.
'I'll yield only the first strike.'
His sword rose slightly.
His feet spread to shoulder width, an odd aura flowing out.
One of the Danmok family's defensive styles.
The Heaven Receiving Sword Form unfolded, a confident smile gracing his lips.
"Yawn."
Meanwhile, bored by the lengthy stance, Cheonhwi wiped a tear from yawning with his index finger and asked.
"Ready now?"
The blatant disregard made veins bulge on Danmokchan's forehead.
But he quickly composed himself.
'Almost fell for the provocation.'
No way he'd do that without reason.
Probably no chance of winning, so trying to shake his spirit.
'Hah, not on me.'
Danmokchan's eyes gleamed as he spoke.
"Come at me."
To Danmokchan's bold words, Cheonhwi, mid-yawn, raised his scabbard.
"Alright."
The moment the words ended.
Crack!
Danmokchan's consciousness snapped off powerlessly.