Battle for the Spirit Creature (5)
‘This time, the Sun Golden Frog will be ours from Jongnam Sect.’
Sa Muhyuk, swollen with arrogance after capturing both the Red Chicken Spirit and the formidable Gold Jade Three Heroes far more easily than expected, was brimming with confidence like never before.
“Any objections?”
A low yet strikingly clear voice echoed from somewhere.
If he had to liken it, it felt like a whisper right in his ear.
“What?! Who’s there? Who dares—!”
Already intoxicated by his own dashing appearance, Sa Muhyuk exploded in fury.
He had bagged the Red Chicken Spirit and sent the difficult Gold Jade Three Heroes packing under Jongnam’s prestige, strutting back like a triumphant general.
“Me.”
From afar, three peerless beauties and a young man approached.
He appeared to be around the age between the boy and the youth, exuding such refined nobility that he seemed like the son of a high-ranking official whose life had gone perfectly thanks to fortunate parentage.
“Ha! Haha!”
Startled by the voice ringing in his ear, Sa Muhyuk burst into laughter upon spotting its owner.
“Kid. Don’t even think about it. I get wanting to look good with those beauties at your side, but…”
While Sa Muhyuk was checking on the Sun Golden Frog’s safety—having witnessed all sorts of human types against his will while cowering more than Hyeon Yucheon—
“It’s the Sapa Supreme!”
“A warrior of the unorthodox pays respects to the Demon Sword Sect Leader!”
“Demon Sword Sect Leader!”
What was this?
The unorthodox warriors who had inserted themselves into this battle for the Sun Golden Frog all clasped their fists in respect the moment they recognized the strikingly handsome young man’s face.
And what kind of beings were these unorthodox warriors, really?
They were the type to snort derisively even at the Shaolin abbot or Wudang sect leader, barely acknowledging their presence.
Much less had any Sapa supreme ever commanded such reverence.
‘There’s only one person in the entire martial world who could draw out this kind of respect!’
Someone quicker on the uptake than Sa Muhyuk, whose eyes were blinded by self-delusion, realized it first.
“Demon Sword Sect Leader, Mugeom Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon!”
Yeon Ilbi, Sa Muhyuk’s junior brother and the Qingyun High Sword, cried out in shock.
He had recognized him properly.
“What? What did you say?”
Sa Muhyuk shuddered uncontrollably.
The pleasant mood shattered in an instant.
“Indeed. I am the Demon Sword Sect Leader, Hyeon Yucheon.”
Hyeon Yucheon stepped forward, fully bearing the countless gazes and the murderous intent pouring from the Jongnam warriors.
“Demon Sword Sect Leader… Hyeon Yucheon.”
Sa Muhyuk blankly repeated his name before sinking into deep thought.
‘I heard he easily defeated Namgung Ungwang, the Crimson Sky Sword King, whom I considered my lifelong rival.’
When he first heard the news, it felt like the sky was collapsing.
No matter how desperately he struggled and trained, he could barely hope to match him, yet this young man—half his age—had done it effortlessly.
The sense of inferiority was immense.
But he never dreamed they’d meet here.
“I’ve heard rumors you’ve been actively forming merchant guilds in Shaanxi lately. But this is a bit much, isn’t it?”
While Sa Muhyuk faltered at Hyeon Yucheon’s appearance, Yeon Ilbi—renowned for his cunning rhetoric and sharp mind—stepped forward.
“What?”
Hyeon Yucheon tilted his head, feigning confusion.
Who’s this guy?
“We acknowledge that your Demon Sword Sect and you yourself are powerful. However… doesn’t might make right? Coveting the Sun Golden Frog, which rightfully belongs to Jongnam, is wrong. If word of this spreads across the world, the Demon Sword Sect will become a laughingstock, and you, its leader, will be branded a petty villain.”
Yeon Ilbi wagged his serpentine tongue with sly eloquence once more.
It was a reasonable argument.
If what Yeon Ilbi said was entirely true.
“Jongnam’s possession?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? The Sun Golden Frog was born and raised absorbing the spiritual energy of Mount Jongnam, so it belongs to our sect, doesn’t it?”
“Pfft! Haha!”
Hyeon Yucheon snorted in derision.
These despicable fools. Not even as good as our unorthodox warriors—how dare they call themselves a great orthodox sect?
It was so outrageous it sparked fundamental doubts.
“Why the laughter?”
At Hyeon Yucheon’s blatant mockery, Yeon Ilbi—who had maintained a polite demeanor—frowned slightly.
In truth, he wasn’t some benevolent soul.
He was the type who chose any means to achieve his ends.
“Because the Sun Golden Frog was in Jongnam territory and grew on Mount Jongnam’s energy, it’s naturally Jongnam’s?”
“Precisely.”
Hyeon Yucheon shook his head emphatically.
Then he turned his gaze to the opposite side.
Surprisingly, at the end of that gaze stood the herb gatherer father and son—the first discoverers of the Sun Golden Frog, who had been rebuffed by the Jongnam warriors.
The reason Hyeon Yucheon’s group had arrived so late was precisely to meet these herb gatherers.
Haomen Leader So Jaun—without her help, this would’ve been impossible.
Hyeon Yucheon subtly signaled his gratitude to So Jaun, who beamed as if it were the greatest treasure, bragging to Jeong Se-in and Yeon Jinjin.
“We’re the herb gatherers who first discovered that Sun Golden Frog.”
Meanwhile, the father and son seemed flustered by the crowd of martial artists, shrinking back awkwardly.
Yeon Ilbi flinched.
Sa Muhyuk was equally stunned as they stepped forward.
“No need to be nervous. Just relax and repeat what you told me.”
At Hyeon Yucheon’s words, the father exhaled deeply in relief and spoke in a trembling voice.
“We’re indeed lifelong herb gatherers on Mount Jongnam. But…”
The simple, honest-looking pair continued.
“The deep cave where the Sun Golden Frog naturally emerged wasn’t on Mount Jongnam or Hyunhwang Peak…”
The father, an elderly man in his sixties, pointed to a peak beyond Hyunhwang Peak.
Coincidentally, it lay outside Jongnam territory—in neutral ground.
“It was right there.”
The herb gatherers’ words rang true.
The Sun Golden Frog had awakened in that cave and, seeking hot energy upon emergence, headed straight to Mount Jongnam.
That’s