Kill the Sword Immortal!
Could it be that Cangmu Academy had some deadly grudge against the Sword Immortal?
The shock wasn't limited to Cangmu Academy alone. The entire Daeun Empire was trembling from the sword light that had just flashed moments ago.
A Sword Immortal!
A Sword Immortal, who had never once appeared in Qingzhou, had revealed herself because of Cangmu Academy.
What on earth had Cangmu Academy done?
The curiosity of the people in the Daeun Empire grew by the moment.
In Qingzhou's Jiang Kingdom.
High in the sky floated a woman in mourning garb. Her white skirt gleamed with an otherworldly purity under the bright moonlight. Yet she still stood with her back turned, her face hidden from view.
At that moment, her hand pointed toward the distant horizon.
"I'll give you half a year. Find the sword. If you fail, I'll shatter your legs."
In the blink of an eye, the woman vanished without a trace.
"Sh... she's gone?"
Gu Lu-ju and Gang Wol-cheon exchanged glances before turning to Yeop Hyeon.
Yeop Hyeon approached them and bowed deeply in gratitude.
"Thank you so much for what you did today!"
Without their help, he and the Canglan Academy disciples would have been dead.
Seeing Yeop Hyeon express his thanks so sincerely eased Gu Lu-ju's heart. The most miserable thing in the world was helping someone only for them to pretend it never happened.
Gu Lu-ju lightly patted Yeop Hyeon's shoulder.
"The ones who should be grateful aren't us—it's you. Thanks to your master, our cultivations will advance a step in half a year. How could we not be thankful for that?"
Without some extraordinary stroke of fortune, the two of them would never have progressed further in their lifetimes. The Sword Immortal's aid today had shattered their bottlenecks, granting them a rebirth of sorts.
Gang Wol-cheon nodded in agreement before addressing Yeop Hyeon.
"So, what are your plans now? If you have none, why not come with me to the imperial palace and rest up? You're friends with Gang Gu anyway, so it won't be awkward."
Gu Lu-ju shot Gang Wol-cheon a glare. The man was brazenly trying to monopolize Yeop Hyeon.
"No, forget that. Come to Chwiseonru instead. Aigoo, the Jiang Kingdom branch is already rubble, so head to the one in Jungto Sinju. We'll treat you and your group with the utmost hospitality!"
'Like hell I'll let you take him!'
Gu Lu-ju had no intention of letting Yeop Hyeon slip away. The Sword Immortal behind him was important, of course, but Yeop Hyeon might one day succeed her as a Sword Immortal himself.
He had to cling to him even if it meant grabbing at his pants leg!
Besides, Yeop Hyeon was still young and likely to face many more trials ahead. If his strength surged in time, there might never be another chance to aid him. He had to bestow a favor now!
But contrary to their expectations, Yeop Hyeon shook his head slightly.
"I truly appreciate your kindness. However, for the time being, I plan to focus on rebuilding Canglan Academy."
'Rebuild Canglan Academy?'
Yeop Hyeon's refusal drew simultaneous sighs from Gang Wol-cheon and Gu Lu-ju.
Ji An Zhi, standing nearby, teared up at his words.
Gu Lu-ju nodded and spoke.
"Young Master Yeop, rebuilding Canglan Academy will require many resources. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to come straight to Chwiseonru. I'll do everything in my power to help!"
Gang Wol-cheon looked at Yeop Hyeon as well.
"If you need manpower, come find me. I'll send laborers from the imperial city."
Yeop Hyeon bowed deeply once more.
"I don't even know how to thank you both!"
Gang Wol-cheon chuckled heartily.
"No need to stand on such ceremony for a small matter like this. It's nothing between us!"
Gu Lu-ju nodded in agreement.
"He's right. Don't be so formal!"
"Then, with much to do, I'll take my leave here."
Yeop Hyeon clasped his hands in a formal salute toward the two men, then turned to Mu Yun Qi and the others.
"Alright, let's gather the spoils and get going!"
Spoils!
The dead here included over a dozen Myriad Laws Realm experts, several at the peak, and even one warrior beyond that realm. The items they carried were anything but ordinary.
At his words, Mu Yun Qi and the rest scurried about, sweeping up everything the warriors had possessed.
Gang Wol-cheon and Gu Lu-ju watched silently. Though some items tempted even them, they knew it all belonged to Yeop Hyeon.
After all, the Sword Immortal had slain the warriors.
Moments later, Yeop Hyeon and his group departed.
Gu Lu-ju gazed at the sky and murmured softly.
"He doesn't rush at all. And he values loyalty and righteousness. Helping that young man was the right choice."
"Cangmu Academy letting him slip away was utter folly. As for Dean Ji... sigh."
"This matter won't end here."
Gang Wol-cheon turned to Gu Lu-ju.
"Other factions might let it go, but Cangmu Academy's main branch in Jungto Sinju and the Shadow Realm won't. The losses they suffered are immense, and whatever the Sword Immortal did at the end... those two won't overlook it!"
"But would they dare point their swords at a Sword Immortal?"
Gu Lu-ju shook his head.
"A Sword Immortal might be an object of worship for us, but things are different in Jungto Sinju. They won't bow to a single Sword Immortal!"
Gang Wol-cheon lowered his voice.
"I sincerely hope they give up."
Gu Lu-ju nodded.
"Me too..."
In the Daeun Empire, at Cangmu Academy.
The Daeun branch of Cangmu Academy was located in a vast mountain range south of the imperial city. The range was so immense it couldn't be taken in at a glance, shrouded year-round in mists that made it resemble a true immortal realm.
Moreover, a spirit vein coursed beneath the mountains. It was no ordinary range.
Though not the main branch, the Daeun Cangmu Academy was the strongest in Qingzhou, regarded as their leader.
On this night, it suffered the most humiliating incident since its founding.
One of their Guardian Elders had his head impaled atop the Ho Yeon Hall by a sword!
What was Ho Yeon Hall? It housed the spirit tablets of past deans and seniors—their sacred ground!
Yet not a soul drew their sword to act.
They couldn't even approach the sword!
The dense sword qi emanating from it repelled even Myriad Laws Realm experts.
Only a Sword Immortal could unleash such sword qi.
Everyone in the academy was convinced they had made an unknown Sword Immortal their enemy.
In a grand hall.
At the head seat sat a man in a robe of black and white, perusing a thick tome with his left hand. An air of refinement emanated from him.
He was Mok Cheonghyeon, dean of the Daeun Cangmu Academy.
Beneath the steps at his feet stood about ten people, men and women lined on either side.
All exuded peak Myriad Laws Realm auras!
Moments later, Mok Cheonghyeon closed his book and spoke lightly.
"Some time ago, several students from the academy went to the Jiang Kingdom. Their goal was to kill a youth named Yeop Hyeon and claim the bounty from the Jiang Kingdom Cangmu Academy.
Regrettably, we lost one genius and several Myriad Laws Realm experts. And just now, even a Guardian Elder was slain. Reports say the two peak Myriad Laws Realm assassins dispatched from the Shadow Realm perished without exception.
In total, sixteen warriors from various factions also lost their lives. No one short of a Sword Immortal possesses such power!"
Mok Cheonghyeon gazed at the assembled warriors.
"What are your thoughts?"
Silence fell over the hall.
A Sword Immortal!
This was no foe the Qingzhou Cangmu Academy could trifle with.
Though their face would be lost, burying the matter was the wisest choice in their eyes.
Then, an elder stepped forward.
"If we truly provoked a Sword Immortal, these deaths are unavoidable. But decapitating a man and sending his head to our Ho Yeon Hall is an intolerable humiliation. If word spreads, Cangmu Academy will be the laughingstock of all Qingzhou, and our students won't be able to show their faces!"
The elder shook his head.
"We cannot let this slide!"
Cannot let this slide...
The hall's atmosphere grew heavy.
That meant striking back!
Fighting a single Sword Immortal. How? And with what?
Just then, Mok Cheonghyeon's gaze snapped to the hall's entrance. A shadow stood there, its arrival unnoticed.
It wasn't a person—it was literally a shadow.
The warriors' faces paled dramatically.
They hadn't sensed its appearance at all.
"Had I known the Shadow Lord would come, I would have gone out to greet you..."
Shadow Lord!
The name of the Shadow Realm's king chilled the blood of all who heard it.
Qingzhou's foremost assassin organization—and its king!
To be precise, the Shadow Realm was Qingzhou's only assassin group.
A raspy, grating voice echoed through the hall.
"Dean Mok, how about we join hands this once?"
'An alliance?'
Mok Cheonghyeon's eyes narrowed.
"Do you have a good plan?"
"It's just one Sword Immortal. If we combine forces, we can handle it without issue."
Mok Cheonghyeon shook his head.
"We can't kill her. Not even with my help."
"Jungto Sinju! Reinforcements are already coming from Jungto Sinju."
At the mention of Jungto Sinju, Mok Cheonghyeon raised an eyebrow.
"Is your Shadow Realm truly willing to stake your lives? For what? Simple revenge?"
"A Sword Immortal's body harbors an origin golden core forged over centuries of cultivation. We'll kill her and claim it."
"The price will be steep."
"Ha! To get a tiger's pelt, you must enter its den, no?"
Mok Cheonghyeon fell silent.
The Shadow Lord continued.
"She's merely a wounded Sword Immortal."
"How do you know?"
"If she weren't injured, she'd have appeared here already and razed the place. A Sword Immortal who's never shown herself in Qingzhou suddenly appearing means special circumstances—like fleeing here with wounds..."
"Mere speculation."
The Shadow Lord snorted.
"Refuse if you like. But the head impaled in Ho Yeon Hall isn't your Guardian Elder—it's Cangmu Academy's reputation. Fail to kill her, and your students will never hold their heads high again. Isn't that right?"
Mok Cheonghyeon's fists clenched gradually.
After agonizing deliberation, he rose abruptly.
"Send word to the main branch. We must kill the Sword Immortal!"