Chapter 224: So You've Grown Up Now, Have You?
Neung Han took a step toward the middle-aged man.
"Besides, he's already reached the Sword Emperor realm at such a young age. Do you think he'll stay there forever?"
"What are you trying to say?!"
"Expel me from the Neung family. I'm going to Cheongju. Everything I do from now on will have nothing to do with the Neung family. But my heart will always be with the Neung family!"
"Do you think you can handle them?!"
"If that's how it has to be, then I have no choice. Sacrificing myself won't bring shame to the Neung family."
"Nonsense!"
The middle-aged man's voice grew louder by the moment.
"What do you mean, sacrifice? You little... "
"In my eyes, it looks fine!"
At that moment, an elderly man appeared before them. Two others stood behind him. They were all the real powerhouses of the Neung family.
And this elder was none other than the Neung family's Great Elder—a man whose authority surpassed even the clan leader's.
The elder addressed Neung Han.
"If you're expelled from the Neung family, we won't be able to help you if trouble comes your way later. Are you sure you won't regret it?"
"I won't regret it!"
The elder nodded.
"Then go!"
With those words, Neung Han bolted away without looking back. As the middle-aged man moved to chase him, the elder blocked his path.
"Great Elder, he's not even your own son—why go this far?!"
The Great Elder shook his head as he replied.
"Don't you know that boy's personality better than anyone, Clan Leader? He's not the type to obediently stay just because we tell him not to go. Besides, his reasoning isn't entirely unfounded. He survived the assaults from Changmok Academy and the Shadow Realms. Forming a deep bond with someone like that can only benefit Neung Han's future."
"But Hogye Meng... that's not something we can afford!"
"Does the Clan Leader still not understand why Hogye Meng hasn't stepped in personally?"
The Great Elder answered his own question.
"It's because Yeop Hyeon is that strong. What's stopping our Neung family from taking a gamble? If he reaches the Great Sword Immortal realm—or even beyond—what better fortune could we ask for?"
The middle-aged man stood there for a long while before letting out a sigh, lamenting.
"That boy... is my son."
"He's a Neung family member too. That means he has a duty to strive for the family's benefit. And once he's made up his mind, we can't stop him anyway, can we?"
The middle-aged man looked up toward the alley where Neung Han had vanished.
"Fine... so you've grown up now, have you...?"
Luk Ban-jang stood silently before the city gates. Beside her were Neung Han, Gam Mu-wi, Im Un-seon, and the others.
Seven in total. The Bi Jeok Mercenary Band had originally been nine, including Yeop Hyeon. They were still missing one.
Sis, no word from Ya Ri yet?"
"Let's wait one more hour. If he doesn't show, we leave."
Neung Han nodded.
At that moment, Luk Ban-jang turned to look at the group and spoke.
"What we'll face in Cheongju isn't some ordinary demon or beast—it's the martial artists of the entire Qingcang Realm. If anyone wants out, just say the word. No hard feelings—we're all brothers here, so we'll understand."
Gam Mu-wi shook his head.
"I can't just sit by while a brother is in danger. Brothers help each other in tough times. And as you said, sis, anyone with circumstances can bow out, and we'll get it."
This time, Im Un-seon spoke up.
"Looks like everyone's here who could make it. Ya Ri must've run into something... Sis, he's not the chatty type, but he'd never miss something this important. Why don't we try contacting him again instead of just standing around?"
Luk Ban-jang nodded and pulled out a transmission stone. But even after a long wait, there was no response from Ya Ri.
"Let's go. We'll head to Cheongju without him."
The seven members of the Bi Jeok Mercenary Band vanished in an instant.
Meanwhile, word reached the Blood Sect that a Qingcang-wide manhunt had been issued for Yeop Hyeon. The sect's warriors were in a festive mood.
"A bounty on Yeop Hyeon! Heaven itself must despise the bastard!"
"Our Blood Sect's sworn enemy... we must avenge ourselves in blood!"
"Let's storm Cheongju right now, capture him alive, and wash away that day's humiliation!"
The grand hall buzzed like a marketplace with warriors shouting one after another.
But the Blood Sect's lord, Hyeol Wol, watched them silently without a word.
At that moment, one warrior approached Hyeol Wol and quietly asked.
"Sect Lord, you don't look pleased. Is something wrong?"
Hyeol Wol slowly shook his head. His eyes betrayed utter incomprehension.
"Yeop Hyeon is merely at the Divine Fusion Realm. To Hogye Meng, he's less than an ant. So why go to the trouble of posting such a high bounty and borrowing others' hands instead of handling him themselves? What are they afraid of?"
"Sect Lord, whatever the reason, shouldn't we hurry to Cheongju and get our share?"
He gestured toward the Blood Sect warriors below.
"Look at them—they're all dying to head to Cheongju! Going now means we can reap massive spoils and boost their strength. The disciples who returned from Canglan Continent last time came back much stronger, and the others are green with envy. But with you forbidding the trip, their dissatisfaction is growing."
Hyeol Wol glanced down at the Blood Sect disciples, their faces flushed with excitement.
What they craved wasn't revenge—it was simply plundering Cheongju to get rich.
"Sect Lord, this is a golden opportunity for our Blood Sect—no, for all of the Demonic Path—to gain real combat experience. Nearly every Demonic sect is already heading there. If we miss this, we'll fall behind!"
Hyeol Wol turned to an elder standing on the opposite side.
"Does Elder Mal think the same?"
The elder nodded.
"If we can harvest enough blood in Cheongju, my Transformation Blood Art could advance another stage."
At those words, Hyeol Wol shot to his feet.
"To Cheongju!"
The grand hall erupted in cheers as if a festival had begun.
In that instant, not just the Blood Sect, but countless forces and sects from Jungto Sinju—especially the Demonic ones—surged toward Cheongju en masse. To them, a Cheongju without Hogye Meng guardians was prime prey to fuel their demonic arts.
Once they entered, Cheongju would become a living hell within days.
Meanwhile, Bukhanjong had completely blocked all news from Cheongju, ensuring none of it reached Yeop Ryeong's ears.
Cheongju.
Yeon Man Ri was still sprinting madly through the rugged mountains with Yeop Hyeon slung over her back. A dozen Myriad Laws Realm experts and hundreds of warriors pursued them hot on their heels.
In a one-on-one, Yeon Man Ri feared no Law Realm powerhouse.
But their numbers were overwhelming. And with Yeop Hyeon gravely wounded, she had no choice but to flee.
How long had they run? Yeon Man Ri suddenly halted. A towering peak pierced the clouds before her.
There was no way back.
The enemies had already massed darkly behind them.
Yeon Man Ri lowered her head to look at Yeop Hyeon.
"This queen does like you, but I can't handle that many!"
"Hand over Yeop Hyeon!"
The group had closed in. A black-robed elder among them shouted coldly.
"Give him up, and we'll let you go!"
Yeon Man Ri's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Of course!"
Without another word, Yeon Man Ri hurled Yeop Hyeon toward the elder.
The warriors in the area froze in shock at her unexpected move.
'She's just handing him over like that?'
Even the black-robed elder looked momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected her to give up Yeop Hyeon so easily.
Unthinkingly, he stepped forward to catch the incoming Yeop Hyeon.
That was when it happened.
"Watch out!"
With a shout, a black shadow shot toward the elder at blinding speed.
It was Yeon Man Ri, wielding her Qinglong Saber.
The black-robed elder recoiled in alarm and instinctively thrust out a fist.
Slash—!
Before everyone's eyes, the elder's body split cleanly from head to toe. Blood and entrails spilled from the gaping wound.
Sheathing her Qinglong Saber, Yeon Man Ri returned to Yeop Hyeon's side and swung her hand wide. A massive dragon throne materialized before her. Plopping down onto the chair, she eyed the hundreds of warriors and bellowed.
"Hold on a moment—this queen has some business to attend to."
With that, she pulled a purple comb from her bosom and began combing her disheveled hair.
In the deathly silence of the mountains, hundreds of eyes fixed on Yeon Man Ri seated upon her throne.
'What the...?'
'Even in the middle of battle, she can't stand messy hair?'
'Is she looking down on us?'
Of course, far more shocking was that she'd just slain a Myriad Laws Realm expert in a single strike.
Young as she appeared, her strength rivaled or even surpassed Yeop Hyeon's.
The warriors couldn't help but feel dread.
Yet with Yeop Hyeon—their prize—right there, they couldn't back down.
Killing him would make them rich for life.
And slaying the infamous Yeop Hyeon of Qingcang would skyrocket their own reputations.
Even so, a dozen or so warriors began slinking away.
The reason was clear: Yeon Man Ri alone was terrifying enough. If Yeop Hyeon recovered too, they'd be the hunted.
The remaining warriors poised themselves to strike at Yeon Man Ri at any moment.
Just then, having finished her hair, Yeon Man Ri gently placed Yeop Hyeon on the throne and stepped forward, Qinglong Saber in hand.
Her commanding stride made most warriors gulp and tense up. Some even backpedaled unconsciously.
But instead of attacking, Yeon Man Ri halted before the hundreds.
"Is it true Yeop Hyeon's name is on the Hogye List?"
A Myriad Laws Realm expert from the Sado family answered her question.
"Yes! With his name on the wanted list, helping him any longer means making an enemy of the entire Qingcang Realm!"
"Hmm... should I just hand him over then?"
The warriors watched her tensely, awaiting her words.
"Nah, no... Wait, yeah—if I offer him to Hogye Meng myself, the rewards will be huge!"