Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: The Eve of Departure (3)
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"Cough. Cough."
Neung Pung-un, who had been heaving up water for a while, finally lifted his head.
"How did you do it? What method did you use to create such a massive waterspout?"
"Simple. I created a vacuum with my internal energy, compressed it, and then released it into the water."
"Is that even possible?"
"You experienced it yourself, didn't you? I told you I have some skill in underwater combat. It's no joke, right?"
Neung Pung-un's face was pale with shock.
He apparently hadn't expected such a one-sided outcome.
'Most murim folk think too lightly of fighting in water.'
They imagine underwater battles as just swimming quickly or using weapons specialized for the water.
'That's exactly the blind spot.'
Even swordsmanship is refined over decades or centuries.
Aquatic techniques are no different.
'They've been secretly passed down and improved in the same way.'
Moreover, this apostle was a tricky one who could manipulate water.
If that was combined with the Yangtze Waterway Hall's martial arts and some foreign true energy, the terror would be indescribable.
'In my previous life, the Murim Alliance overlooked this and got massacred despite their overwhelming forces.'
Knowing this well, he had given a light warning.
To show that fighting in water was never simple.
"...You're right, it's completely different. It goes beyond what I imagined for underwater combat."
Fortunately, unlike the frustrating righteous faction fools from his previous life, Neung Pung-un was the type to acknowledge his shortcomings.
"Just as you said, it's not something to take lightly. If I'd known it was this impressive, I would've come earlier to meet you."
"You're always welcome. It's rare to find someone I can dunk like that."
"Haha. Bear with me a bit."
"Anyway, what's up?"
Neung Pung-un was so capable that he was constantly summoned here and there.
If he made time to come all the way to this remote place, there had to be a reason.
"Do I need a reason to visit a friend?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Haha. You must feel neglected. Don't worry. I'll visit more often from now on."
Chu Un-hwi stared silently at Neung Pung-un's joking demeanor and didn't miss the faint shadow that crossed his forced smile.
'Something's happened.'
Sensing it intuitively, Chu Un-hwi played along with the jest.
"That's music to my ears."
***
That evening.
Chu Un-hwi followed Neung Pung-un after he left the training grounds.
Whoosh.
Gliding between trees, Chu Un-hwi landed lightly on a thin branch the size of a child's finger.
Rustle.
With his inner power heightened, he peered ahead.
Neung Pung-un, trekking along the mountain path, stopped and glanced around.
His repeated attempts to shake off pursuers only deepened Chu Un-hwi's conviction.
'He does have some objective.'
Waiting quietly, he saw Neung Pung-un veer off the main path into trackless terrain.
And the direction he was heading...
'That way?'
There was a place emanating an unnatural aura.
Extending his senses slightly, an even more discordant energy registered.
'A safehouse set up by the Murim Alliance?'
It was so perfectly concealed that even he might have overlooked it without prior knowledge.
The dilapidated pavilion nestled between precarious slopes not only avoided drawing the eye but was protected by formidable barriers and formations.
'Well, now that I know, it doesn't matter.'
Slipping forward.
Chu Un-hwi's form on the branch dissolved like mist.
***
Upon arriving at the crumbling pavilion, Neung Pung-un hardened his expression at the sight of those waiting for him.
"Great Strategist Jegal."
The current head of the Jegal family and the wisest figure in the current Murim Alliance.
He hadn't expected Grand Strategist Jegal Cheon-gi to come in person.
Behind him stood the Murim Alliance's Military Department's pride, the Famous Heaven Squad warriors, arrayed like tigers and leopards.
Gulp.
Swallowing dryly, Neung Pung-un clasped his hands in salute.
"I didn't expect the Great Strategist Jegal to come himself."
No matter that he was the Plum Blossom Sword Hero of Mount Hua Sect, the Murim Alliance's brain trust—the grand strategist—was not someone you saw easily.
One could call him a heaven above heavens.
Then, a grumbling voice came from beside him.
"You brat. Can't you even see this old beggar?"
"Haha. I was so thrilled I went blind. It's been a while, Beggar Elder."
"You punk."
Neung Pung-un asked the sheepishly scratching Beggar Elder,
"If both of you have come to see me... have you found traces of the apostle?"
"Correct. To be precise, it's half right."
"Where am I headed?"
"Lake Dongting."
At the curt reply, Neung Pung-un stifled a groan.
"The Yangtze Waterway Hall. That apostle's got some cunning."
"As everyone predicted, it's a place to hide while evading the righteous and demonic gaze."
"Lake Dongting. That's quite a journey."
"Young Hero Neung."
As he muttered, the hitherto silent Jegal Cheon-gi interjected, fanning himself lightly with his feather fan.
"The reason I urgently sought you out is because I have something important to say."
"Please speak."
"The Plum Blossom Gale Sword looks reliable at a glance, but the situation is more serious than you think."
Covering his mouth with the feather fan, Jegal Cheon-gi continued.
"The apostle's trail leads to Lake Dongting. Most likely, he's holed up inside the Yangtze Waterway Hall."
"Wasn't that more or less what we expected?"
"The problem comes after. Do you know the Iron Chain Alliance has mobilized?"
"I've heard that White Man's Iron Blood Beast Squad is pursuing the apostle."
"Not just them. The Brutal Death Squad and Heaven Dormant Assassination Sword have stepped in."
"...!"
Not one, but two of the Iron Chain Alliance's infamous death squads.
Neung Pung-un's face drained of color.
Seeing this, Jegal Cheon-gi shook his head.
"They haven't been active in the jianghu for a long time, but those two death squads' martial prowess is still fearsome."
"I imagine so."
They had been Iron Chain Lord Cheol Mu-hon's arms and legs since his youth, paving paths of blood.
Especially the Heaven Dormant Assassination Sword, who had single-handedly slain over a hundred Murim Alliance elites in one spot, making his name.
Even his martial uncle, an elder of Mount Hua Sect, hadn't lasted ten exchanges—what more need be said?
"The Alliance speculates their arts have reached the Transcendent Realm."
"Transcendent Realm..."
The pinnacle was generally the highest realm achievable through human cultivation.
A rare genius with luck might surpass human limits to Ultra Pinnacle.
But the Transcendent Realm was beyond even that.
It referred to those who had stepped into the divine domain.
"Hard to believe, but it's probably true. The Beggars' Sect confirmed it."
"Young'un. It's not just their high martial arts that's the issue."
If they were merely strong, overwhelming them with greater force would suffice.
"The worst part is they're old ginger in the jianghu. More skilled in schemes than martial arts—it won't be easy."
At the Beggar Elder's words, Jegal Cheon-gi nodded in agreement.
"They're already mobilizing the evil sects around Lake Dongting. The death squads and Iron Blood Beast Squad are dangerous, but the problem is all those evil sects rising up together."
"...What are you trying to say?"
"As long as they're uniting under the Iron Chain Alliance's name, the Murim Alliance can't intervene. It could escalate to a righteous-demonic war."
Another grim fact emerged.
"Even righteous sects can't act rashly now. If those guys launch a coordinated attack, we couldn't handle it."
As Jegal Cheon-gi proposed with eyes clenched shut,
"With the situation like this, sending you has become even more dangerous. That's why I came personally. Will you really accept this mission?"
Jegal Cheon-gi's voice trembled faintly with regret.
Yet.
After closing his eyes in deep thought and reopening them, Neung Pung-un showed no hesitation whatsoever.
"If it must be done, it's rightfully my duty."
"...Is that so?"
"From the moment I accepted the mission, I no longer counted my life."
Jegal Cheon-gi sighed at Neung Pung-un's resolute salute and shout.
Admiration and pity were evident in his expression.
As the mood grew heavy, Neung Pung-un lightened it with a playful tone.
"Even if I don't go, wouldn't you head to Lake Dongting alone, Elder?"
"You brat. Aren't I a useless old fogey, different from you?"
"Haha. I'm just as young and useless without purpose."
Jegal Cheon-gi smiled at the banter and raised his feather fan.
"Very well. If that's your will, I'll share my strategies to the best of my ability."
He was just about to unfold a map from his bosom when—
"Who's there!"
The guards standing around the pavilion snapped their fingers toward the empty air.
Swoosh!
Crash!
Sword lights and winds exploded, and the Famous Heaven Squad members who had drawn swords and dashed into the forest returned.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, sir. Seems we mistook some bats flying by."
"Tch!"
Clicking his tongue, Jegal Cheon-gi shook his sleeves and entered the inner pavilion.
At that moment.
Deep in the dark forest, Chu Un-hwi perched on a treetop whistled softly.
"Those guys are sensitive."
Were they Murim Alliance strategist's guards for a reason? They detected presences that most couldn't in an instant.
Approaching to peek at what Jegal Cheon-gi had pulled out was the mistake.
"Well, it worked out thanks to that."
Flicker. Flicker.
A red glint flashed in his shaggy hair.
That gaze resembled the eyes of the bat that had flown into the pavilion moments ago.
"Formations are such a hassle."
But who knew there was a way like this?
Hanging upside down from the tree, Chu Un-hwi peered into the pavilion's interior.
***
The next day.
The instructor's office, where he had been urgently summoned, was already filled with quite a crowd.
Including faces rarely seen, they must have been called in emergently like him.
"Everyone's here on time."
Jang Cheol-sim entered the office with a weary look, tossed an official document on the desk, and spoke.
"The promotion exam schedule has been urgently adjusted."
"The promotion exam schedule, sir?"
The instructors gaped at the sudden announcement.
"I know it's startling, but it's from above."
Though Jang Cheol-sim cut them off, protests erupted from all sides.
"Senior Instructor! Shouldn't we have time to prepare for the promotion exam?"
"Why push up the winter exam like this?"
"Please explain, Senior Instructor!"
As the angry voices rose everywhere, making him uncomfortable,
"Hmph!"
A snort came from somewhere.
"Instructors acting like spoiled children—isn't it embarrassing for the students to see?"
The sharp glares toward the voice scattered instantly.
"It's downright shameful."
It was because the speaker was Emei Sect's Geum Jeong.
Her steadfastness and ruthless hand had become infamous in recent days.
"Uh, Instructor Geum. Mind your words a bit."
"Instructor Ya So-gok. I merely stated the shameful truth."
Even Zhongnan Sect's Ya So-gok couldn't counter, so the instructors lowered their gazes en masse.
With the atmosphere much improved, Jang Cheol-sim continued.
"I understand the surprise, but accept that it's a carefully considered decision from above. Also, this exam isn't just for promotion candidates."
"Anyone can participate?"
"Yes. Show results, and you'll get bonus points reflected in next year's promotion evaluation."
"Wow."
Exclamations burst out at the unexpected declaration.
In the now-calmed room, Jang Cheol-sim held up the document and pointed to one side.
"Those called, line up here in order."
As they lined up by name, Jang Cheol-sim handed out appointments one by one.
"Instructor Ya So-gok, dispatched to Huangshan, Anhui Province."
"Instructor Jo Hyeon to Luoyang."
"Instructor Yeo Mae-hong..."
Pausing to glance at Yeo Mae-hong, Jang Cheol-sim declared.
"Instructor Yeo Mae-hong, dispatched to Yangyang, Hubei Province."
"Yay!"
Yeo Mae-hong, thrilled at the easy posting, slumped her shoulders under sharp stares.
Next was Neung Pung-un.
"...Instructor Neung to Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province."
Murmurs rippled through the instructors at the declaration.
"...Poyang Lake? Isn't it dangerous there lately?"
"Even if he's skilled, isn't that too reckless a mission?"
But Jang Cheol-sim continued calling names indifferently, silencing them one by one.
"All near the Yangtze."
"Nine Great Clans or not, isn't it risky?"
"Why go to such lengths?"
It was inevitable they harbored doubts.
New instructors from the Nine Great Clans were being dispatched centering on Lake Dongting, where danger rumors swirled.
But there was something they hadn't anticipated.
"Hm."
Finally, Jang Cheol-sim stopped squarely before Chu Un-hwi.
Glancing back and forth between the roster and Chu Un-hwi several times, he asked,
"You. Did you make an enemy of Myo Gwang, sect leader of Myo Jin Sect?"
"Would a good person like me make enemies?"
"So you did. Otherwise..."
Hesitating as he mulled it over, the instructors protested.
"What's going on?"
"Why always favoritism toward temporary instructor Chu Un-hwi?"
"Call it already!"
They were all stuck with hellish postings.
Finally, squeezing his eyes shut, Jang Cheol-sim shouted.
"...Fujian Province. Wu-i Mountain."
----
Silence fell over the room.
Even those who had smirked in schadenfreude moments ago were stunned.
And rightly so.
"Senior Instructor! Fujian is Iron Chain Alliance territory!"
As Yeo Mae-hong cried out, it was a death trap among death traps.
A posting that reeked not just of malice, but of intent to kill.