Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: An Interrupted Reunion
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At Neung Un-bi's appearance, the room froze.
The people inside the hut could only stare at Neung Un-bi, unable to move a finger.
The Third Young Master?
Could this be the man from the rumors?
But why is he here...?
Both those who knew him and those who didn't were utterly bewildered.
And Neung Un-bi could guess what they were thinking.
How absurd must it be for a member of the Demonic Cult to suddenly appear at a secret meeting?
But his heart was racing.
Wasn't this the man he had longed to meet all this time?
The man who had been like his life's purpose?
“Why are you here?”
Despite Hwang Byeong-chan and Shin Ye-rang's questions, Neung Un-bi's gaze was fixed on just one person.
…Yun An-ro.
It was him. Thirty years had passed, and his face was now lined with wrinkles, but there was no mistaking him.
He was truly alive.
It felt as if he would smile, look at him, and pat his shoulder at any moment.
He wanted to kneel before him, weep, and share all the stories of the years that had passed.
*Grit.*
But Neung Un-bi couldn't bring himself to call out to him.
Because right now, he was not Cheok Wol-rin…
Nor could he reveal the truth.
Weren't there too many people listening?
“Third Young Master! Why are you here?!”
“...”
Shin Ye-rang's sharp voice was directed at Neung Un-bi.
Kim San had already moved to stand protectively in front of Yun An-ro, his sword drawn.
“What in the world?”
Hwang Byeong-chan was also visibly flustered.
After all, he was supposed to be at Shaolin…
But that didn't matter anymore. It was now clear that his defection had been a lie.
Neung Un-bi barely managed to calm his racing heart, evening his breath and slowly regaining his composure.
If he were to reveal his identity now, no one would believe him; it would only add confusion to more confusion.
For now, he had to remain Neung Un-bi. First, he had to soothe their startled minds.
And the first person he needed to persuade was none other than the man seated at the head.
“Master Yun.”
“...?”
At Neung Un-bi's quiet call, everyone, including Yun An-ro, stared with wide eyes.
Master Yun?
They had never met, so how could Neung Un-bi know his name and title?
“Could you please calm the atmosphere? I will explain everything in due time.”
“...”
However, Yun An-ro simply stared at Neung Un-bi with wary eyes, saying nothing.
*Click.*
In response, Neung Un-bi carefully unfastened his Flying Swallow Sword and placed it on the table.
“What are you doing?”
“It means I have no intention of harming any of you.”
At Neung Un-bi's words, Shin Ye-rang scowled and shouted fiercely.
“Nonsense! We already know your martial prowess is a threat with or without a sword!”
“Of course… but this is a show of my intent.”
“Intent? You expect us to believe that?!”
“Whether you believe me or not is up to you.”
Neung Un-bi's words were for Shin Ye-rang, but his gaze remained fixed on Yun An-ro.
“I ask you to listen. As Shin Ye-rang already knows, I am aware of Cheok Wol-rin.”
“...!?”
At Neung Un-bi's words, Yun An-ro's eyes widened.
He knows the Sword Fanatic… Cheok Wol-rin?
When Yun An-ro looked at Shin Ye-rang as if to confirm, she nodded with a stiff expression.
“I will say it again. I will not bring any harm to you or your comrades.”
“...”
“Furthermore, I already know everything about you. What you have been doing for a long time, and what Cheok Wol-rin, the leader of the suicide squad, did.”
“H-How do you know that?”
“I also know about the Haehyeon Brigade.”
“...!”
At those words, the faces of Yun An-ro and the others were stained with shock.
He knows everything?
“How could you possibly know that?!”
“It seems Shin Ye-rang hasn't told you.”
“What?”
Neung Un-bi glanced at her, but Shin Ye-rang only scowled and remained silent.
He never thought he would have to use that lie again, but as long as she was here, he had no choice but to press on with it.
Even if he revealed the truth later…
Neung Un-bi connected the lies he had previously told Shin Ye-rang to the current state of the Central Plains.
“Cheok Wol-rin had a connection to my master, Dam Un-cheon.”
“What?”
“Haven't you found it strange all this time?”
“...”
“Why has the Demonic Cult been so quiet? Why hasn't Dam Un-cheon attempted to invade the Central Plains, even after earning the title of Heavenly Demon?”
“T-That’s…”
“I heard it was at Cheok Wol-rin's request.”
“What did you say?”
“I will tell you the details now. Ah, but before that, if you would secure the area…”
After a moment's hesitation at Neung Un-bi's words, Yun An-ro raised a hand to quiet those around him.
“Master!”
“It's alright, Byeong-chan. His intentions don't seem malicious, so let's hear him out. San, you can put away your sword as well.”
“...Understood.”
At Yun An-ro's command, not only Hwang Byeong-chan but also a hesitant Kim San sheathed his sword and stepped back. Of course, his wary gaze on Neung Un-bi never wavered.
“Thank you.”
Neung Un-bi bowed his head politely.
He had put out the immediate fire.
But he couldn't tell his own story with everyone present.
“Master Yun.”
“...”
“From now on, I would like to speak with you alone, if that is acceptable.”
“Alone?”
“What?”
As Yun An-ro considered Neung Un-bi's request, fierce voices of opposition erupted from those around them.
“You can't, Master!”
“That's right. He's from the Demonic Cult. We still don't know what his intentions are, do we?”
“Hmm…”
Yun An-ro gazed steadily at Neung Un-bi before speaking.
“I want to believe your words, but I lack proof.”
“Proof…”
After a moment's thought, Neung Un-bi pulled out a long-forgotten memory.
A verse that only Yun An-ro would know.
“There is a poem he left behind when he was with the Demonic Cult.”
“A poem?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
At Yun An-ro's question, Neung Un-bi took a breath and slowly began to recite the poem.
“The hearts of the people and the mandate of heaven are lost, yet the warlords pursue only profit, tearing the world asunder.”
“...!”
“The spirits of the wronged litter the mountains and rivers, ravaged by war, but with no one to care for them, what is to be done?”
As the calm voice continued, Yun An-ro's eyes widened as if they would tear.
“If others turn a blind eye, must not even the powerless like me step forward with righteousness?”
When the recitation ended, Yun An-ro was trembling uncontrollably.
It was the verse he had repeated to Cheok Wol-rin like a mantra.
Something no one but Cheok Wol-rin would know.
It was his own heart, the very reason he had formed the Haehyeon Brigade.
“Ah…”
Slumping weakly into his seat, Yun An-ro looked at Neung Un-bi with distant eyes and asked.
“He… he really did meet Dam Un-cheon. He really did…”
“...Do you believe me now?”
“I believe you.”
Yun An-ro nodded, and Neung Un-bi gave an awkward smile, feeling guilty for his lie.
“Everyone… would you please leave us?”
“Master!”
“I'm asking you.”
“...”
At Yun An-ro's request, everyone scowled and glared at Neung Un-bi.
But they no longer objected.
Finally, he would get to speak with him alone.
Neung Un-bi planned to erect a sound-blocking barrier after they left and tell him the whole truth.
That he was Cheok Wol-rin.
That after so many long years, he had returned to see him again…
Just as he was steadying his trembling heart and quivering lips, waiting for everyone to leave.
*BOOM!*
A sudden explosion and a fierce wave of energy struck the hut.
Startled, Neung Un-bi whipped his head around to look outside. Through the gap in the door, half-destroyed by Kim San's sword, he could see Hyang-i rushing toward them.
“You bastard!”
“...?”
Kim San's sword swung toward Neung Un-bi.
But Neung Un-bi was not one to be caught by his blade.
*CRACK!*
Kim San, having split the table in two, stood in front of Yun An-ro and shouted.
“What is the meaning of this! Reassuring the Master with empty words only to pull a stunt like this!”
“No, this isn't…”
It was clearly a misunderstanding. This was a secret meeting, and his visit was unannounced…
But Neung Un-bi was just as bewildered.
“Master! Please retreat for now. We will hold them off here.”
Kim San shouted urgently, and Shin Ye-rang drew out the incendiary bombs she wore.
*BANG!*
And Hyang-i, who had already reached the hut, immediately smashed the door down and yelled with a furious expression.
“Third Young Master! It's the enemy!”
“What?”
“Shit! We're surrounded!”
“...!?”
What was she talking about? Surrounded?
By whom...?
In that moment, the faces of the Orthodox Murim Alliance's elders flashed through Neung Un-bi's mind.
Come to think of it, wasn't Hwang Byeong-chan being watched?
Did that mean someone else had been secretly tailing him?
“Damn it…”
Seeing the urgency on Hyang-i's face, assessing the situation would have to wait.
Escaping was the priority now.
Everyone here…
“It wasn't me.”
“Shut up! You expect us to believe you at a time like this?!”
“...”
At Neung Un-bi's protest, Kim San's expression grew even more venomous as he raised his sword.
Damn it, at this rate.
If someone had followed Hwang Byeong-chan and set up an encirclement, this was undoubtedly a trap.
They must have been waiting for everyone to gather, and their target was… Yun An-ro?
We just met.
I haven't even had a proper conversation with him yet.
For it to end so shortly…
Rage surged within him.
It was natural for misunderstandings to arise before he could reveal his identity, but it was disheartening that no one knew the feelings that had brought him here.
“Goddammit! This isn't the time to argue about that!”
“...”
When Neung Un-bi roared, Kim San clamped his mouth shut and glared at him.
“Master Yun. I don't know how to explain it, but you must trust me.”
“...”
Yun An-ro looked into Neung Un-bi's eyes.
Clear and transparent eyes.
Reading the sincerity within them, Yun An-ro gave a heavy nod.
“For now, I will clear a path.”
“What? Why are you clearing a path? Are you saying you're going to save them?”
“...”
Hyang-i immediately snapped in annoyance, but Neung Un-bi ignored her and continued speaking. There was no time to argue with her now.
“Kim San, Hwang Byeong-chan.”
“...”
“I'm entrusting Master Yun's safety to you. When I open a path, take him and the others and flee without looking back. If a few give chase, Shin Ye-rang's incendiary bombs should be enough to hold them off.”
There wasn't even time for questions, answers, or explanations. The enemy was already swarming in like a black tide.
Neung Un-bi explained what they needed to do and immediately began scanning the surroundings.
He had to find terrain suitable for an escape. That would be their way out.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?! Why are you saving them?”
“...”
“Dammit! Do you think there are only one or two enemies? We might not even make it out alive if we just run by ourselves!”
Hyang-i screamed, her face contorted with anger.
She felt like knocking him out and dragging him away if she could.
But Neung Un-bi had become too strong for that.
Neung Un-bi wasn't oblivious to her feelings. She probably thought he was doing something foolish.
But he had no choice.
Because Yun An-ro was far more precious to him than his own life.
“Hyang-a.”
“What? Why!”
“You… should go.”
“What?”
“You should be able to escape on your own.”
“...You crazy bastard!”
Hyang-i's face twisted in disbelief.
But Neung Un-bi was serious. With her martial skills, she could escape any encirclement.
But he could not.
He had to protect Yun An-ro and the others.
“Damn it all!”
Hyang-i glared at Neung Un-bi and swallowed her curse. She knew from the look in his eyes that words wouldn't persuade him.
“You, just you wait. I don't care if you're the Third Young Master or whatever, I'm going to beat you to a pulp.”
“...?”
Hyang-i grumbled in frustration and tightened her grip on the daggers in her hands.
“Hyang-a…”
“Shut up! For now… just focus on escaping!”
“I'm sorry.”
That was all he could say.
He had told her to run, but he knew he desperately needed her help right now.