“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, you’re not going to take a detour in the middle, are you?”

“I’m going home. I’m going to the escort agency, and you’re going to the Lotus Pavilion.”

“…”

When Cheon Mubaeck didn’t hear Neung-heo’s words, which he had expected to hear by now, he turned his head.

“…Hey, are you crying?”

Neung-heo sniffed a handful of his nose.

“Ahem, no.”

“Our Neung-heo, you must have had a hard time on your brutal martial world journey.”

Cheon Mubaeck couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Well.

Although the martial world was a life of walking on a blade’s edge, it had been a series of dramatic situations since Cheon Mubaeck had left the escort agency. It was understandable that fatigue would accumulate.

In Henan, it had started with the Black Wolf Gang and had continued to the tragedy of Shaolin. In Shaanxi, there had been countless incidents at The Complete Truth Sect and Mount Hua. Even after coming to Chongqing, a dizzying battle had continued.

The martial world was like this.

No matter how strong a martial artist’s mental strength was, even if he was a man of an unshakable iron will, if he went through the winds and waves of the martial world, something was bound to be shaken.

One side of his emotions would be worn down without him even realizing it, and he would feel a serious fatigue in some parts.

Neung-heo also, although he had not shown it, had consumed a lot of his mental energy without even realizing it.

This was why he needed a space where he could put his mind at ease and rest while living in the martial world.

Cheon Mubaeck thought that now was the time for a brief rest.

‘It’s not a big problem, but…’

Because a heart demon was not something that came at an expected point.

He also needed time to organize what he had gained so far.

“Then I’ll get ready.”

As soon as he decided to return to Henan, Neung-heo moved faster than anyone else.

Even though Cheon Mubaeck had not given any orders, he had prepared the necessary things for the journey in an instant.

Cheon Mubaeck was purely impressed by his flawless work ability.

“People’s efficiency increases when they do what they like. Indeed, the old sayings are never wrong.”

Thanks to Neung-heo, Cheon Mubaeck was able to finish preparing for the journey right away.

Gwak Cheon-hu, in a hurry, brought the letter that Gwak Yong was sending to Shaolin and accompanied him.

“I’ll go with you to Henan.”

“Sure.”

Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head nonchalantly. When Gwak Cheon-hu had also finished his preparations, Cheon Mubaeck moved right away.

“Young Master Cheon, just a moment!”

At that time, it was Chae Ga-ryeong who had come to find Cheon Mubaeck, who had just finished preparing to leave.

Chae Ga-ryeong, who had appeared with Yeon So-un, had a relatively bright face.

Since all the Ten Stars and the Bidaras of the White-Haired Twin Ghosts, who had annihilated the Sacred Fire Sect, had been killed, she had relieved her pent-up resentment to some extent.

Thanks to that, Chae Ga-ryeong had come to regard Cheon Mubaeck as a benefactor.

“I only used the best medicinal herbs from Chongqing. I’ve packed them full of good medicinal herbs from Imgang-bu in Jiangxi Province!”

Chae Ga-ryeong said and handed over a small bundle one by one.

“Young Master Cheon’s, this is Mr. Neung’s, and this is Young Master Gwak’s.”

Anyone would feel good if they received an unexpected gift.

Neung-heo, who was already happy at the fact that he was returning home, smiled with satisfaction, and the cold Gwak Cheon-hu also relieved some of the burden of having to get the support of Shaolin. Cheon Mubaeck just received it calmly.

“I’ll use it well.”

“Yes, yes! I’ve also put in medicine for internal injuries, and there’s also medicine for cuts, so you can use them according to the time. But I hope you don’t have to use them.”

Chae Ga-ryeong said a little shyly. Cheon Mubaeck smirked and put it in his bosom.

The fact that each person’s surname was embroidered with a thread on the bundle so that they would not be confused seemed to show a great deal of sincerity.

“Well, if you have any difficulties while you’re staying, tell the Flying Sword Sect Master. That person will help you well.”

Chae Ga-ryeong was scheduled to stay at the Flying Sword Sect for the time being, and then to move to the Righteous Alliance when it was established.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Cheon Mubaeck immediately turned his horse’s head and shook the reins.

He set out on the journey home to Henan.

* * *

“This can’t be.”

Neung-heo suddenly muttered.

When Cheon Mubaeck stared at him as if to ask what he was talking about, Neung-heo shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s too peaceful.”

The return journey was a route that went through Hubei Province to Henan. They had already entered Hubei Province.

No accidents had occurred so far. Neung-heo felt a sense of unease at that point.

“This is normal.”

“Right? This is a martial world journey, right? Heo. It seems I’ve done all the fighting I’ll do in my lifetime.”

“You must be very bored.”

At Cheon Mubaeck’s words, Neung-heo’s face hardened slightly, as if he had felt something strange.

A look of anxiety flashed in his pupils. Neung-heo said firmly.

“I’m not bored.”

“What is there for a martial artist to do when he’s bored? It’s just to swing a sword.”

“No, why is the story going that way again…”

“Cheon-hu.”

“…?”

“Neung-heo is bored.”

“Then I’ll have to make him not bored.”

Gwak Cheon-hu also stretched as if his body had been stiff. Neung-heo sighed with a look of despair.

“My mouth is the problem…”

“The mouth is a door that brings disaster.”

“Thank you for the advice, my lord.”

Was it said that the most interesting sights in the world were watching a fire and watching a fight?

Cheon Mubaeck would often make Gwak Cheon-hu and Neung-heo fight each other.

Although Neung-heo complained about why he was being tormented so much, his attitude in the duel was serious.

He also knew. The fact that Cheon Mubaeck was not just making them fight for no reason.

No, perhaps this was an opportunity.

Cheon Mubaeck would watch the duel and would throw out a word or two.

Both Neung-heo and Gwak Cheon-hu were the ones who had experienced Cheon Mubaeck’s existence the closest.

He was the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero whom people revered, and he actually had the martial prowess to match his reputation. All martial artists were thirsty for teachings, and the advice of a master was sometimes more precious than a spiritual medicine.

Gwak Cheon-hu would listen to those words and would understand them perfectly, and would gain a small enlightenment.

Neung-heo also, although not to the extent of Gwak Cheon-hu, had now changed his attitude towards the sword, so what he realized was becoming clearer.

When one reached a certain level, one’s vision would deepen and widen.

Neung-heo, who had a strong rebellious spirit and was very sarcastic, soon realized that the words that Cheon Mubaeck threw out were golden rules.

But the result was always the same.

“I’d rather fight with a monkey holding a sword.”

It was Gwak Cheon-hu’s victory. Neung-heo lost every time.

Although they fought two or three times a day, the result was always the same. But the atmosphere of the two was opposite.

On the contrary, Gwak Cheon-hu, who was winning, was slowly feeling impatient.

‘If this continues, I’ll get hit once.’

Gwak Cheon-hu felt a slight sense of crisis.

On the outside, it was always Gwak Cheon-hu’s overwhelming victory. Neung-heo could not even inflict a single wound on Gwak Cheon-hu’s body. On the other hand, Neung-heo would roll on the floor unsightly or would get a wound every time.

But that was on the outside.

Gwak Cheon-hu, while having a duel, had felt Neung-heo’s growth more than anyone else.

In today’s duel, a handful of the collar of his chest had been cut off.

It was so powerful that if he had reacted a little later, a hole would have been pierced in his chest.

‘I can’t lose.’

Gwak Cheon-hu clenched his teeth.

His goal was Cheon Mubaeck.

He could not be caught up by a mere Neung-heo. His pupils burned fiercely.

“Wow. This is crazy. Do you secretly eat spiritual medicine when I’m sleeping? To be honest, you bastard. I won’t ask for it.”

Neung-heo felt frustrated.

Although he felt like he would know something if he listened to Cheon Mubaeck’s advice, the problem was that he lost to Gwak Cheon-hu every time.

To overcome that frustration, he now continued to have duels even before Cheon Mubaeck ordered him to.

To land a proper blow on Gwak Cheon-hu. To get further away from Neung-heo.

The two were growing for their own reasons.

“It’s a good sight.”

Cheon Mubaeck felt a sense of satisfaction for the first time in a long time.

What was as good as his own growth was the growth of those around him.

Although he had originally had a lonely and dogmatic side, that had also been diluted a lot through his past lives.

Especially the Righteous-Demonic War of his previous life was decisive.

‘What’s the use of me being strong alone? Everyone is dying.’

The most important thing was his own growth, but the people around him also had to support him to some extent.

Cheon Mubaeck turned his head and looked at Neung-heo.

“Heuryatcha!”

Although it was a missed attack this time as well, Cheon Mubaeck saw it clearly. A look of bewilderment was on Gwak Cheon-hu’s face.

Neung-heo, although he did not realize it himself, had shown a noticeable growth.

Although only Gwak Cheon-hu had been able to accept and digest Cheon Mubaeck’s advice, Neung-heo had also reached that level.

But the unfortunate reason was that Gwak Cheon-hu was also absorbing Cheon Mubaeck’s advice and making it his own.

The growth of the two was not unrelated to Cheon Mubaeck.

‘Sometimes, look at other people’s sword paths.’

Cheon Mubaeck had not forgotten the meaning that Lü Dongbin had left behind at The Complete Truth Sect.

The sword path that Gwak Cheon-hu pursued, and the sword path that Neung-heo was walking without even realizing it.

Each had a clear characteristic.

Cheon Mubaeck would look at that sword path and would sometimes gain a small enlightenment in a new part.

Of course, most of it was not very helpful, but hadn’t Cheon Mubaeck surpassed the level of a great master who could derive a big result from a small thing hundreds of years ago?

‘The flow of the sword changes subtly depending on the personality.’

Cheon Mubaeck had already reached the level of a sword god a long time ago, and there had been a time when he had thought that there was nothing more to know about the sword.

Of course, every time he crossed the path to the afterlife, he had admitted that that thought was wrong by being defeated by that egg guy.

But it was a surprising thing that there was still a small enlightenment in such a small part.

Cheon Mubaeck, on the one hand, felt a thrill.

Rather than the fact that he had not yet reached the Sword Kiuk, he was thrilled at the fact that there was still more to advance and to realize.

‘The end of the sword. It’s far, but it’s a place I really want to reach.’

Cheon Mubaeck’s eyes burned.

* * *

Cheon Mubaeck did not take a fast shortcut.

He moved along the well-paved official road. If he was not going to move using his lightness skill, it was of course much faster to move on the official road.

If you followed the official road, you were bound to pass through a large city. After passing through Yichang, he arrived at Jingzhou.

From Jingzhou, he was scheduled to take a boat and head straight for Henan, using the Yangtze River and the numerous tributaries that crossed Hubei Province in all directions. He had thought about stopping by Wuhan in the east and seeing Dongting Lake, but no one was interested.

Cheon Mubaeck had seen it countless times, Gwak Cheon-hu was in a hurry to go to Shaolin, and Neung-heo also wanted to go home quickly.

In Jingzhou, where such a comfortable journey had taken place, Cheon Mubaeck felt a strange heat.

Since Hubei Province was a large province, there were many martial artists. Since it was located in the center of the Central Plains and the Yangtze River passed through it, the population was large. It was natural that there were many people of the martial world among them.

But the sight of them moving hastily through the city in similar martial arts uniforms was not a common sight.

And when he recalled that the martial arts uniform was that of the Zhuge family.

“Isn’t it the Zhuge family?”

“That’s right.”

“Keu. It’s amazing. I’ve only heard of the Zhuge family, but the level of their warriors seems quite amazing.”

“Would they be one of the five great families for no reason?”

Cheon Mubaeck did not think much of it. But Gwak Cheon-hu lowered his voice with a slightly hardened face.

“A gaze has been following us since we entered the city.”

“I know.”

“Are we just going to leave it alone?”

“Act naturally. Isn’t it a characteristic of people of the martial world to stare when a strange martial artist comes in?”

When Cheon Mubaeck said so, Gwak Cheon-hu also nodded his head. Cheon Mubaeck also did not step forward. Because if there was a purpose, someone from that gaze would approach.

Neung-heo, before stopping by the inn, had brought some rumors from the surroundings.

“Well, there’s a reason why there are a lot of martial artists, not just the Zhuge family. I heard a demon has appeared nearby.”

“A demon?”

“Yes. Since there are quite a few victims, the nearby white-way martial world has stepped forward.”

“He’ll be caught soon.”

Because even the Zhuge family had moved.

Cheon Mubaeck thought so and headed straight for the inn.

“Huh?”

Cheon Mubaeck, who had always reacted nonchalantly to big things, let out a slightly flustered voice.

Neung-heo looked at the inn as if to ask what was wrong.

A large carriage was parked next to the inn, and there were a lot of large carts.

And the flag that was on top of it.

Neung-heo looked at Cheon Mubaeck and said.

“Isn’t that your escort agency, my lord? The Azure Star Escort Agency?”

It was the flag of the Azure Star Escort Agency.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep