Central Continent - Minor Gathering of the Three Sects (4)
Central Continent - Minor Gathering of the Three Sects (4)
The Sohoe Secret Realm, a secret realm gifted long ago by a Half-Immortal of the Dao-Attainment Realm from Cheondogung for future generations.
Jointly managed by the Three Major Sects, it was opened only during the period when the Samjongsohoe was held.
Other than that, even the sect masters of the Three Major Sects could not enter.
Although this Sohoe Secret Realm was restricted to the Qi Condensation stage level, as expected of a secret realm, it was full of various fateful encounters.
One could benefit by obtaining high-grade treasures of heaven and earth, or fall into misfortune by being overly greedy.
During the open period, participants were allowed to take items out of the Sohoe Secret Realm.
Despite the flaw of having what one obtained exposed to the public eye, there were numerous people who participated solely aiming for the fateful encounters here.
The time limit of the secret realm was a generous one week.
Those who were quick on their feet would already be scattering in all directions, looking for fateful encounters.
"By the way, why did you guys come to me?"
Since it was my first time in a secret realm, I was just casually looking around, but the latecomers surrounded me.
Among them was Gwak Cheolwoo, whom I had met before.
"Cheolwoo-ya, I thought your revenge would take place in the next task. Weren't we supposed to fight one-on-one like real men?"
"Shut up, you bastard! I will never forget the humiliation you brought upon me! And my name is Gwak Cheonu!"
Gwak Cheonu flushed red and exploded in anger, but the more he did, the more his name became fixed as Cheolwoo in my mind.
"So the thing you came up with is a group beatdown? Cheolwoo-ya, I'm disappointed. Unlike your mountain-like body, your heart is as small as a millet seed. I truly hope you have some unspeakable circumstances."
"Your tongue is too long! If you want to live, hand over everything you have and beg for your life. The Participant Token isn't omnipotent. I have more than enough ways to kill a single person like you!"
Gwak Cheonu spewed out killing intent.
As if echoing his momentum, the other participants also displayed greedy gazes and put on sinister smirks.
"The three Foundation Establishment Pills you hold—an ignorant rogue cultivator can't even imagine their value. Breaking through a major realm is something where even disciples of major sects can die if they mess up. Even if it wasn't me, you would have definitely paid the price."
The encircling line slowly narrowed, their imposing appearance showing their complete confidence in victory.
I cracked my shoulders. Perhaps he was pleased that I was resisting, as Gwak Cheolwoo's expression grew fierce.
"I don't know if this will be fun, though."
"Attack!"
When Gwak Cheolwoo commanded, the cultivators rushed forward one by one.
Some used magic techniques to shoot rocks, fire, water cannons, and the like.
Some meddled with my senses using magic treasures or divine sense.
Some, seemingly body cultivators, charged at me head-on.
"Let me deal with you one by one."
My divine sense, grown through countless Dantian Explosions, was something even a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator would defer to.
The twisting senses were crushed by my overwhelming divine sense.
Those who suffered backlash groaned and collapsed, after which my fist pierced the solar plexus of the body cultivator who approached at high speed.
"Keo-eok!"
His Participant Token shattered, protecting his life.
A barrier formed over his skin as he was thrown far away.
Ignoring the disqualified guy, I evaded the magic techniques pouring from all directions with escape techniques.
Well, it was merely exploding the ground under my feet to launch myself at ultra-high speed, though.
"Aaaah!"
"Ah, what a familiar tactile sensation."
Bwa-bam-bwa-bam! Mu Jayeon obtained [Gwak Cheolwoo Sword]!
"Ah, it has been a long period of humiliation and persecution. It's time to return as Sword Saint Mu Jayeon."
"W-Wait! This isn't right! Aaaah! Just kill me instead, you crazy bastard!"
Swinging Gwak Cheolwoo violently around, I beat down the inhumane cultivators.
The horrified expressions on their faces as they fled were quite a sight to see.
"I'll give you everything I have, so please stop! I have things I need to obtain in this secret realm!"
"Hand it over!"
"I will give it to you!"
"You spineless coward! Do you have no self-respect!"
"Pardon!?"
I presented Gwak Cheolwoo to the guy who had his head on the ground begging for mercy.
Seeing their heads sharing affection with each other was truly heartwarming.
"Hieek! Don't come near me! Don't come any closer! Just kill me with your fist!"
"Got it."
"Keo-eok! That's a leg!"
"Don't order me around."
I raised a toast (Cheers) toward the guy falling refreshingly down the cliff.
"This is pretty decent."
"Heo-euk! Kheu-euk!"
The situation was quickly settled.
Except for a few who escaped, I caught and disqualified most of them.
In return, Gwak Cheolwoo sobbed from the aftermath.
"I-I'm Gwak Cheonu of Cheolbyeongmun! I came here to show everyone my good side!"
"Cheolwoo-ya, crying won't change anything."
Whether his body was sturdy or not, despite causing all that chaos, his token didn't shatter.
Even if he's a bit weird, he's still extraordinary.
"There, there, stop crying. I like you, so I'll spare you."
"Kill me! People must have seen all of this, how can I hold my head up and live!"
"That's why I asked why you did such a thing in the first place."
I sat the whining Gwak Cheolwoo down and comforted him.
Seeing a grown man acting like this made me feel weak-hearted for no reason.
"I-I didn't want to do this either! This is all because of— Keuk!"
Gwak Cheolwoo, who was about to complain, clutched his stomach as if he desperately needed to take a dump and gasped.
His sudden action ruined my appetite.
"Yeah, yeah, you must have your own troubles. Calm down, and let's talk about our wholesome future."
"Piss off!"
"First, get some sleep and wake up again."
I pressed down on Gwak Cheolwoo's head until it caved in slightly.
I laid down the guy whose eyes had rolled back, and took a close look at the stomach he complained was hurting.
Nothing was caught with my ocular technique.
Should I check his pulse? I felt curious, but that was as far as it went.
"He'll manage fine on his own."
I waited for him to wake up.
While waiting, the sky of the secret realm I looked at had many stars and was quite a sight.
"Kkeu-eung..."
"Are you awake?"
A moment later, Gwak Cheolwoo woke up and let out a sigh first.
"Haaah."
"Why are you sighing like that? You'll blow away your good luck."
"...Fellow Daoist, what is your objective that you left me alone?"
Just a moment ago he was crying his eyes out, and now he's pretending to be a gentleman.
However, I decided to respect that pride of his.
"Did someone order you to do this?"
"...It was my own decision."
"Is it Yunbaek?"
"......"
I probed just in case, and his reaction was a hit.
I pulled out the Meridian-Nourishing Jade Pill I received from Do Yunbaek from my storage bag.
"You're hurt enough, do you want to eat this? Yunbaek gave it to me."
"I-I will decline."
"I heard it's good for recovery?"
"I haven't trained so carelessly as to rely on medicine."
"Same here."
I crushed the Meridian-Nourishing Jade Pill.
As the powder settled on the ground, the dirt began to die turning black.
"Anyway, guys who smile and pretend to be friendly can't be trusted."
This is even stated in the Xianxia recommended mandatory reading material, the 'Heh-heh' dictionary.
Suspicious smiles mean you suspect them first by default.
"I'm busy enough trying to cultivate, so why do they do that? Right?"
"........."
Gwak Cheolwoo remained silent.
However, the cold sweat pouring from his forehead represented his true feelings.
Did they say Cheolbyeongmun was a secular branch sect of Cheondogung?
Unlike in Wuxia, secular branch sects in Xianxia seem to be treated almost like pawns.
"Rest assured. Since I'm here, Yunbaek won't be able to harass you."
"F-Fellow Daoist is not such a person. He is always fair and just, a respected future pillar of Cheondogung. I also respect him as a fellow cultivator."
There is no soul in his words.
His eyes are glued to his own knees rather than looking into mine.
Surprisingly simple-hearted.
Maybe Gwak Cheolwoo had been given commands like this every time.
Indeed, busy enough with cultivation, the reality of running errands under someone else couldn't be very pleasant.
All the more so if he knew his own talent.
"Do you want revenge?"
"The one I want revenge on is you. Not innocent Fellow Daoist Do."
His two hands trembled faintly as he spoke.
For now, it seems other emotions precede revenge.
I smirked.
"Hey, if you want revenge on me, shouldn't you stay close to me?"
"...What are you thinking?"
"Don't worry. I'm just having fun thoughts."
I came because they called it a Qi Condensation stage tournament, but it had no fun aspects and was getting boring.
But look, isn't there an interesting spectacle right here?
"Any looting is allowed in this secret realm, right?"
"...If you can pull it off."
"Is there no limit to its scope?"
Gwak Cheolwoo frowned.
"Stop it. Do you think you're the only one who had such thoughts? The Sohoe Secret Realm is vast. It would be far more beneficial to search for your own fateful encounter rather than hunting for cultivators."
"You found me easily enough."
"That's......."
His eyes glanced down toward my feet.
Do Yunbaek, this motherfucker is hopeless.
"Cheolwoo-ya, don't forget that I spared your life once."
"...I don't particularly recall such a thing?"
"Just get it. You just need to follow this hyung."
I made a proposal to Gwak Cheolwoo.
"If you listen to me until the secret realm ends, I will accept your request for a rematch once, whenever and wherever you want. You can even do it when I'm on the verge of death."
"...Swearing on your Dao Heart?"
"Yeah."
"........."
Perhaps culture-shocked by my confident declaration, Gwak Cheolwoo said reluctantly.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"So are you gonna do it or not?"
"...I will. Opportunities like this don't come often."
"From now on, we are the Cheolwoo Bandit Troupe, shortened to Cheolwoodan."
"...?!"
You're the leader.
I'm the deputy leader.
Seogeok.
Five demon beasts met their end at a single sword stroke and fell to the ground.
Yeon Biha, who had unbuttoned her shirt collar that So Yeonggyeong had taken the trouble to tie up, flicked her bloodless sword and returned to her group.
"Biha-ya, good work. Let's rest here for today."
"Yeah."
Yeon Bi nodded half-heartedly and cast a unfocused gaze into empty air.
Leaving her behind, the two disciples of Taeheogeomjong, So Yeonggyeong and Gu Soak, engaged in conversation.
"Elder said there are insights left by our seniors somewhere around here, right?"
"Yeah, she said it can't be seen on the screen and is visible only to disciples who have mastered the ocular techniques of Taeheogeomjong."
This Sohoe Secret Realm was a place frequented by numerous young sword cultivators of Taeheogeomjong.
There were spots where a few geniuses had left behind sword secret mantras for their juniors.
"They said the sword mantras might be damaged over time, but there's nothing to lose by searching for them."
"Let's search until around day 5, and if there's nothing, let's cleanly give up and leave. Is that fine with you too, Biha?"
To So Yeonggyeong's question, Yeon Bi responded with silence.
Reading her friend's intent as an affirmation, So Yeonggyeong prepared to devise tomorrow's plan with Gu Soak.
Kung!
"Who's there!"
Two assailants appeared, openly revealing their presence.
Fitting for disciples of the Three Major Sects, the two female disciples immediately drew their swords.
The assailants were covering their faces with clumsy masks.
One twisted his body as if embarrassed, while the other licked a dagger and giggled.
"We are the Cheolwoodan. A bandit troupe that has made this Sohoe Secret Realm our stronghold. If you don't obediently hand over everything you have, you're dead meat!"
"...D-Dead meat."
"Fellow Daoist Mu, Fellow Daoist Gwak. What are both of you doing?"
Seeing the two of them who had no intention of hiding their identities, So Yeonggyeong let out a chuckle.
"If this is a joke, I'll let it slide quietly."
"Haha! You girl talk too much! You must not know what kind of man our Cheolwoo-hyungnim is—it's his daily routine to quench his thirst with women's blood and sleep with children's flesh as his pillow! Right now, our hyungnim is starving for fresh blood!"
"I have never done such a thing!"
Gwak Cheonu protested against the baseless slander, while So Yeonggyeong wondered what kind of farce this was.
"Do you have no intention of backing off?"
"I've already told you!"
"...If that's the case then."
So Yeonggyeong gave up trying to understand.
Cultivators were crazy people to begin with.
It wasn't surprising even if they acted incoherently.
"Biha-ya! You take on Fellow Daoist Mu! We'll handle Fellow Daoist Gwak!"
At that moment, vitality returned to Yeon Biha's blank eyes.
Looking at Mu Jayeon, she gave a soft, beaming smile.
"The person who saw my chest."
"......?!"
"Bandit? Disguise? Mmh, eradicate."
A ray of light shot up beneath the darkening night sky.
Mu Jayeon hastily twisted his waist.
Huwung! The tip of the sword tore through his mask and swept past where his neck had been.
His smirking eyes glittered with a brilliant glint.
If he hadn't dodged, he would have died.
A crisis he had never felt against a Qi Condensation opponent.
He felt an unprecedented momentum.
Yeon Biha was no ordinary rising star of the Three Major Sects.
A sword cultivator possessing strength beyond her realm.
Even the Foundation Establishment stage gatekeeper hadn't satisfied him, but to think he would hit the jackpot here.
Mu Jayeon's head grew hot.
His heart pounded, and the corners of his lips curled up instinctively.
"—This looks fun."