Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: One Step Across Hundreds of Ri
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Dugun Un fell deep into thought after receiving the report from the Demon Extermination Squad Leader. It was truly shocking news. The Golden Demon Art hadn't been able to suppress the Sword Demon. Given that the Sword Demon was a demonic practitioner, there was no way he could evade the Golden Demon Art. And yet, he had.
"Heavens, what in the world... What is to become of this world from here on..."
Jegal Jung-cheon, standing beside him, chimed in agreement with Dugun Un's sigh.
"It's a grave matter, indeed. The martial world is growing more chaotic by the day, and now this on top of everything."
Just moments ago, word had arrived that numerous sects affiliated with the Martial Alliance had been attacked and destroyed. And right on its heels came the news about the Sword Demon.
It was an incredibly dire situation for the Martial Alliance.
"What do you make of it, Strategist? Do you think they've truly found a way for the Heavenly Demon Fortress to overcome the Golden Demon Art?"
"I doubt it. The Demon Extermination Squad Leader reported as much. Even the Sword Demon seemed unaware. We should watch and wait a bit longer on this. Of course, we must keep it strictly confidential."
Dugun Un nodded. It made sense. For now, maintaining secrecy while investigating the truth was key. A slight headache began to throb. There were simply too many matters demanding his attention.
The Sword Demon issue, at least, could be handed off to his intelligence network. They would uncover the facts reliably.
"Very well, let's proceed that way. As for the Demonic Alliance—what should we do about them?"
"We strike. They've openly declared the Martial Alliance their enemy. It's only natural. And they didn't just target sects under our umbrella—they attacked indiscriminately. Public outrage is sky-high. If we take them down now, our prestige will soar."
"The Righteous Heaven Alliance must be thinking the same."
Dugun Un fell silent after saying that. The Righteous Heaven Alliance weighed heavily on his mind.
They were undoubtedly of the orthodox sects. Yet something about them felt off. He couldn't pinpoint what, but it gave him a bad feeling.
"Haah, no helping it. Then, Strategist, draw up a plan for how we'll deal with the Demonic Alliance going forward."
"Understood. I'll get right on it."
With his orders given, Dugun Un rose and stepped outside. He felt like he needed to clear his head today or he wouldn't make it through.
At the Yi-seon Sect
The group arrived at the Martial Alliance's branch near Mt. Heng exactly two days after departing Yu Family Manor. They'd pushed themselves hard the first day, shaving off an enormous amount of time.
Had they followed Dan Hyeong-u's lead that day, they might have arrived before dawn.
The branch was smaller than expected. But it had a prison strong enough for holding someone like Ma Yeom-gi.
Even as just a branch, it was still the Martial Alliance. There were several warriors of considerable skill. They could securely hold Ma Yeom-gi and the Demonic Alliance martial artists.
Handing over Ma Yeom-gi and the rest fell to Jegal Lin. The Jegal family was a pillar of the Martial Alliance. Naturally, Jegal Lin wielded significant influence.
With Ma Yeom-gi transferred to the branch, the group set off once more for Nanchang.
In truth, Jegal Lin had wanted to linger a bit at the Mt. Heng branch. But with Dan Hyeong-u moving immediately, there was no choice. Among the group, only Umun Hye could naturally make demands of him. And even she seemed unconcerned, so the others had no option but to follow.
Tang Ho-gwan was especially downcast. The sole reason he'd followed Dan Hyeong-u was to perfect Heavenly Thunder—to wield it as freely as now, even without him nearby.
But rushing like this left no time for training.
In any case, the group departed the Mt. Heng branch, brimming with dissatisfaction.
"Heading to Nanchang now?"
Jegal Lin asked in a somewhat subdued voice. Dan Hyeong-u nodded, setting their next destination.
Dan Hyeong-u started to step forward but paused. Walking like this, who knew when they'd reach Nanchang. He wanted to get there faster. He wanted to see the Sword King and Sword Demon safe with his own eyes.
"I want to go quicker."
The group tensed at his words. Getting here had been no joke. And now Dan Hyeong-u wanted to speed up. They didn't want to imagine what trials that might bring.
Seeing them all stiffen simultaneously, Dan Hyeong-u had to reconsider. Going alone would be much faster, but pointless. He wanted to take everyone here along, quicker.
"Guess I'll have to try it."
Curiosity flickered in the group's eyes at his mutter. He was about to show something new again.
"What are you planning?"
Umun Hye couldn't hold back her curiosity. Dan Hyeong-u stared at her blankly.
"First time trying, but it'll probably work."
With that, he extended a hand. Umun Hye took it without hesitation.
He offered his other hand, toward the side where Umun Hye wasn't standing. The group grasped his intent.
Jegal Lin dashed forward and grabbed it. The others stared at her in surprise. Her face flushed slightly, but she kept a bold expression.
"Just curious."
Even after her explanation, suspicion lingered. Dan Hyeong-u continued.
"Everyone else, join hands."
The rest were Tang Ho-gwan, Tang Mun-yeong, and Yeong-sa. Tang Mun-yeong took Jegal Lin's hand first, then Tang Ho-gwan took Tang Mun-yeong's. Yeong-sa hesitated to take Umun Hye's, instead going to Tang Ho-gwan.
Thus, the entire group linked hands.
"Don't let go, no matter what."
A mix of bewilderment and tension filled their eyes. Then Dan Hyeong-u took a single step.
Whoooosh!
An immense pressure enveloped the group. Umun Hye and Jegal Lin, holding Dan Hyeong-u's hands, fared better, but the others endured unimaginable force.
The farther from Dan Hyeong-u, the stronger the pressure. Yeong-sa, at the end, let go in the blink of an eye.
Tang Ho-gwan and Tang Mun-yeong's hands separated next, and just before Dan Hyeong-u stopped, Tang Mun-yeong dropped off.
All in the brief span of that one step.
"Wh-what just happened?"
Jegal Lin and Umun Hye gaped, unable to close their mouths in shock. Yu Family Manor lay before the two women clutching Dan Hyeong-u's hands.
"H-how are we back at Yu Family Manor..."
It had taken two grueling days of near-breaking their bodies to reach the Mt. Heng branch. Yet returning from there to Yu Family Manor was just one step.
"Th-this can't be real. How is this possible?"
Jegal Lin exclaimed in renewed astonishment. But Dan Hyeong-u merely frowned slightly.
"Told you not to let go, but you didn't listen."
Snapping to, Jegal Lin realized the others were missing.
"Wh-where are the rest...?"
Only then did she recall dropping Tang Mun-yeong's hand. Her face paled.
"What happens to them? Huh?"
Jegal Lin asked Dan Hyeong-u in a panic. He simply looked at her steadily.
"They dropped off midway."
Her expression went blank. Midway meant somewhere between Mt. Heng and Yu Family Manor. Those who let go early would be nearer Mt. Heng, later ones closer to here.
As Jegal Lin and Umun Hye reeled from the novel experience, Dan Hyeong-u glanced back the way they'd come. He nodded and took another step.
Dan Hyeong-u vanished.
Jegal Lin had no strength left to be surprised.
"Le-let's rest a bit."
She spotted a nearby rock and sat. Umun Hye nodded and joined her. At that moment, Dan Hyeong-u reappeared—holding Tang Mun-yeong's hand.
Yeong-sa looked around in bewilderment. He'd only let go due to the overwhelming pressure, yet his surroundings had completely changed.
He'd clearly been at the Mt. Heng branch, but now people bustled around a lively marketplace in a fairly prosperous village.
After confirming with locals several times, he learned this was a village about a hundred li from Mt. Heng.
'A hundred li in that instant?'
Yeong-sa tilted his head, baffled. After pondering what had happened for a while, he shook it off, clearing idle thoughts.
The priority now was finding Umun Hye. Staying by Dan Hyeong-u was safest, but if she'd been scattered like him, she'd be in trouble.
"Then... to Nanchang?"
The original goal was Nanchang, so that's where he'd head. That was Yeong-sa's decision. No rest from here on, until he found her.
Tang Ho-gwan was equally flustered. The pressure had forced his eyes shut, and the moment he lost Tang Mun-yeong's hand, he plunged into water.
Flailing briefly underwater, he regained balance and looked around in shock. He was in the middle of a river.
It was a small river, not shallow, and he'd fallen right in. Utterly incomprehensible.
Tang Ho-gwan climbed out, drying himself with inner energy. He surveyed the area.
"Good, houses in sight."
No worry of getting lost now. He could ask at the houses where he was and which way to go.
The houses were in a small village. Kind villagers even fed him simply. And he learned something shocking.
This place was on the border between Hunan and Jiangxi. The small river marked the boundary.
'H-how? It felt like half a step at most.'
The pressure had been immense, but the distance covered in that instant was barely half a pace. That's where he'd let go.
Tang Ho-gwan stared in blank amazement at the unbelievable event. But he snapped to. He had to find Tang Mun-yeong. She was key to the Tang family's future.
"To Nanchang first?"
Like Yeong-sa, Tang Ho-gwan set Nanchang as his goal. He'd run without rest. He couldn't bear if something happened to her.
Meanwhile, the three women gathered before Yu Family Manor still stared at Dan Hyeong-u in stunned disbelief.
"H-how did you do that? Why are we here?"
Jegal Lin couldn't hide her confusion. This was impossible. Just one step. She hadn't seen it, eyes squeezed shut, but surely. Yet that step bridged Mt. Heng to Yu Family Manor.
Dan Hyeong-u wasn't one to patiently explain. Truthfully, he could do it naturally, like breathing—no explanation needed.
Who explains breathing to ordinary folk? They'd call you mad. That's exactly what he'd done.
As natural as breathing. How do you explain what you just do?
"Next is Nanchang."
His curt words shut Jegal Lin's mouth.
"Y-you're going to do it again?"
Dan Hyeong-u nodded. The confusion in Jegal Lin's eyes began to clear, turning to intense curiosity. She'd figure out what happened this time.
"Where is it?"
Only Jegal Lin could answer properly. She gauged directions briefly, then pointed one way.
"Straight that direction, and Nanchang should come up."
As a formation expert, Jegal Lin's sense of direction was unmatched. Even so, pinpointing Nanchang from Yu Family Manor wasn't easy. But she could approximate it.
"Distance?"
A map formed in her mind. Jegal Lin carried the full Central Plains map in her head. She wasn't just any of the Three Phoenix Blossoms; she was the White Phoenix.
"About five hundred li."
"How many steps?"
Jegal Lin's words caught. Steps? But her mind calculated automatically. Roughly five steps per zhang.
"Around three hundred thousand paces."
The answer came almost instantly. Umun Hye and Tang Mun-yeong marveled at her computational prowess. Estimating the distance was impressive enough; converting it to steps in a flash was astounding.
"Don't let go this time."
The three women tensed. They changed tactics: Jegal Lin and Tang Mun-yeong each took one of Dan Hyeong-u's hands, while Umun Hye hugged him from behind.
Jegal Lin gripped tight, eyes wide. No closing them this time—she vowed it fiercely.