The Great Master Hyeryang looked at Cheon Mubaeck with a dumbfounded look.

Because he had seen Cheon Mubaeck’s face for the first time.

“Young Master Cheon, have you seen me before?”

Moreover, since Shaolin was in seclusion, they did not receive people unless it was a special situation like now.

In the end, it meant that there was no way he could have seen the Great Master Hyeryang.

But Cheon Mubaeck had really seen the Great Master Hyeryang before. However, since so much time had passed, it took him a while to recall the memory.

‘That bald-headed young brat is now the abbot.’

Around the time the righteous-demonic war was ending, Cheon Mubaeck had stepped forward to have a showdown with the Heavenly Demon. Among the numerous martial artists of the orthodox sects who had followed him at that time was the Great Master Hyeryang.

At that time, Cheon Mubaeck had felt sorry for the few remaining martial artists of Shaolin who were being sacrificed in the battle and had advised them to return.

He hadn’t just persuaded them with words, but had actually half-threatened them by exuding a fierce momentum. Because at that time, Shaolin’s grudge against the Heavenly Demon was so great that it was difficult to persuade them with words.

But the Great Master Hyeryang, even though he was a brat, had withstood Cheon Mubaeck’s momentum.

Of course, he couldn’t withstand it any longer and his body had collapsed on its own. In fact, Cheon Mubaeck had even withdrawn his momentum, worried that he would die. His appearance at that time was so impressive that his face remained in his mind like an afterimage.

Wasn’t the child of that time now the abbot of the Great Shaolin Temple, sitting in front of him?

Of course, Cheon Mubaeck did not show a happy expression.

“I’m sorry. I think I was mistaken. My greeting was late. I am Cheon Mubaeck of the Azure Star Escort Agency Agency.”

As if nothing had happened, Cheon Mubaeck politely bowed his waist.

“Nice to meet you. Although I am lacking, I am Hyeryang, who is in the position of the abbot.”

“Thank you for accepting my sudden request for a meeting.”

“No. When a guest comes, the host should greet them first and treat them, so I am rather sorry, young master.”

The Great Master Hyeryang said so and carefully observed Cheon Mubaeck.

Then he suddenly said.

“By any chance, have you ever received teachings from Buddhism?”

To the Great Master Hyeryang, it felt that way.

The faint feeling of familiarity was very similar to that of Buddhism.

Recalling that he had mentioned the Red Buddha Hermitage, he could not rule out the possibility that his master was from Shaolin.

But Cheon Mubaeck just showed a comfortable smile.

“I have not received any separate teachings from Buddhism, but since Buddha is in everyone’s heart, I can say that I have received teachings.”

“…”

The Great Master Hyeryang and Master Muso looked at Cheon Mubaeck with an admiring gaze.

‘He’s a genius.’

Although it was not a special answer, the Great Master Hyeryang felt a genius in Cheon Mubaeck.

And feeling such gazes, Cheon Mubaeck was inwardly satisfied.

‘The atmosphere is not bad.’

No matter how fair and just the Shaolin Temple was, there was a law of the martial world.

‘It’s basic to be wary when you meet a stranger.’

Shaolin is a little different, but they are also people of the martial world, right?

Isn’t that the basic of people with swords?

So Cheon Mubaeck had used a trick.

He had been circulating the Heaven-Shaking Soul Art even before entering the room.

Not only was it based on the internal energy cultivation methods of Taoism and Buddhism, but he had also recently taken the Clear Spirit Pill after raiding the Black Heart Gang, so his energy was somewhat similar to the energy of Shaolin.

On top of that, since Cheon Mubaeck was just smiling faintly, the Great Master Hyeryang and Master Muso felt a subtle sense of familiarity and had let down their guard without even realizing it.

‘The atmosphere is pretty good, so shall we start talking?’

Cheon Mubaeck had actually made a few plans.

The original plan was to reveal the whereabouts and identity of the Blood Demon Sect, inform them that it was their doing, and rescue Cheon Mungyeong and the escort warriors.

Of course, that plan was not different now. But there was something added.

‘Circumstantially, there is a high probability that the Pine Truth Sect is related to the Blood Ghost Valley. I will catch the tail of the Blood Ghost Valley through the Pine Truth Sect. On top of that, it would be a good thing to get to know Shaolin.’

From what he had seen, the Blood Ghost Valley were extraordinary guys who could handle the Blood Demon Sect as their subordinates. Moreover, they were so thorough that Cheon Mubaeck had not been able to catch their tail even after mobilizing all the information networks of the Black Heart Gang and the Lotus Pavilion.

Since he had seen the possibility of a connection with the Pine Truth Sect here, Cheon Mubaeck had intended to not only reveal the innocence but also to dig deeper and catch the tail of the Blood Ghost Valley.

‘To do that, I have to pressure the Pine Truth Sect.’

Because if you pressure them, they can’t stand it and are bound to ask for help. They would probably aim for the Blood Ghost Valley.

Cheon Mubaeck immediately got to the point.

“It’s nothing else, but have you ever heard of a group called the Blood Demon Sect?”

“The Blood Demon Sect? Just from the name, it sounds like a group of the unorthodox sects…”

“It’s not just a simple unorthodox sect. Please take a look at these.”

Cheon Mubaeck handed over the data he had brought after raiding the Blood Demon Sect in Bonggu County.

They were records of the activities of the Blood Demon Sect in Henan Province.

“…What is this!”

The face of Master Muso, who was checking the data one by one, turned red.

The Great Master Hyeryang’s face also hardened.

His voice trembled slightly. It was not trembling with fear.

A thick anger.

Wasn’t the content so serious that even Hyeryang, who was honing the teachings of Buddhism, found it difficult to calm his anger?

“Does such a cult really exist?”

“Of course. There is not only evidence but also a witness.”

“A witness?”

“He is a martial artist who belongs to the Blood Demon Sect. He is currently detained at an inn below Mount Song.”

Well, his condition is not very good.

Cheon Mubaeck hid his somewhat difficult expression as he recalled Cheok, who had gone half-mad.

He had released the restriction with the White Demon Eye and had extracted various information, so he had gone almost half-mad and he couldn’t bring him all the way to Shaolin.

But since he could send someone to confirm, even if he couldn’t know the detailed content, he would be a sufficient witness for Shaolin to grasp the reality of the Blood Demon Sect.

“I will attach my subordinate, so please send someone to confirm.”

“Eum!”

The Great Master Hyeryang swallowed his saliva. Since he had even caught a witness, he could not doubt it. Moreover, the data were all detailed. If it were fabricated content, he would have put a lot of effort into the fabrication.

Moreover, what reason would there be to fabricate this?

“I heard that Shaanxi is suffering in many ways because of the plague. The number of patients is also gradually increasing in Henan… Are you saying that all this is artificial?”

“That’s right. It’s the doing of the Blood Demon Sect.”

“Alright. If we confirm it, the truth will be revealed. Young Master Cheon, but what is the reason for informing us of the existence of such a cult here?”

“I think the Blood Demon Sect is related to this incident.”

“…!”

“Are you saying that the Blood Demon Sect stole the escort item?”

“That’s right. There is a record that some of the martial artists of the Blood Demon Sect headed towards Mount Song on the day it was stolen, following orders.”

“Eum!”

“But with just this, to say that it’s the doing of the Blood Demon Sect… is weak.”

“That’s right. Moreover, the real culprit is not the Blood Demon Sect, but the group behind them.”

“Behind them?”

At the words ‘behind them,’ the eyes of the Great Master Hyeryang and Master Muso widened.

The Blood Demon Sect written in the data here was already formidable in its viciousness and scale, but there was a backer behind them?

Cheon Mubaeck said quietly.

“They are the guys from the Blood Ghost Valley.”

“…The Blood Ghost Valley.”

“But these guys are so thorough that I’ve only managed to find out their name.”

“Is it Young Master Cheon’s claim that the Blood Ghost Valley used the Blood Demon Sect to steal the escort item?”

“That’s right.”

Cheon Mubaeck slowly nodded his head and said a word.

“The Master of the Pine Truth Sect, Baek Gong-yang.”

“Why the Master of the Baekmun… could it be?”

“He and the Blood Ghost Valley cooperated and orchestrated the matter.”

At that point, the Great Master Hyeryang could not help but become serious.

“Young Master Cheon, the Pine Truth Sect is a secular branch of Shaolin. That’s impossible.”

“Do you really think so?”

Cheon Mubaeck said so and looked straight at the Great Master Hyeryang.

Although it was a somewhat disrespectful attitude, the Great Master Hyeryang could not dare to stop it.

In fact, hadn’t he also been a little suspicious of the Pine Truth Sect in his heart?

And Baek Gong-yang.

“But the evidence is too weak. Moreover, why did they aim for the escort item? The Master of the Pine Truth Sect also does not know what that escort item is.”

“Because the Blood Ghost Valley got the escort item, and Baek Gong-yang got something else.”

“Something else?”

“His internal energy. Didn’t you feel that it was strange?”

“How did you…?”

“I’m a little sensitive to a person’s energy.”

Cheon Mubaeck smiled nonchalantly. But the Great Master Hyeryang and Master Muso could not just accept it nonchalantly.

The sinister energy that was faintly felt was something that only Master Muso and the Great Master Hyeryang here had barely felt.

It was not something that could be felt just by being sensitive.

“To be honest, I also find the Master of the Pine Truth Sect a little suspicious.”

“I know. That’s why you were protecting my father and the escort warriors to some extent under the pretext of detention.”

“Eum.”

“Although it’s called a detention, just by letting them stay at the Jahye-gak, I am just grateful for the fair and just treatment of the Shaolin Temple.”

Hyeryang was purely impressed. He was surprised by Cheon Mubaeck’s sharp eye and his ability to grasp the situation. Moreover, considering that the young man in front of him, no, the 16-year-old who still had a youthful look, the surprise was even greater.

Wasn’t he subtly revealing that he had learned martial arts by saying that he was sensitive to external qi?

‘I can’t see it.’

But the Great Master Hyeryang also could not grasp the level of Cheon Mubae’s skill.

That meant that he had a unique internal energy, or that he was a greater master than himself.

A child of only sixteen.

“I understand that the evidence is weak. Then we must find conclusive evidence.”

“What do you intend to do? Don’t you dare even mention attacking the Pine Truth Sect. The Pine Truth Sect is a secular branch of Shaolin until conclusive evidence comes out.”

“Yes. But please grant me just one request. Then we can obtain evidence that we can be sure of.”

“A request?”

Cheon Mubaeck looked straight into the Great Master Hyeryang’s eyes.

“Please lift the seclusion and declare the re-entry into the martial world.”

“…!”

* * *

“What did you say?”

“The Shaolin Temple has ended its seclusion and has declared its re-entry into the martial world.”

“Suddenly? Wait a minute, didn’t Cheon Mubaeck say he was going to meet the abbot of Shaolin?”

The subordinate flinched for a moment at Baek Gong-yang’s tone, which lightly mentioned the abbot of Shaolin, and then nodded his head.

“That’s right. Right after that, the Great Master declared the re-entry through Master Muso.”

“What is this! In this situation?”

At the incomprehensible behavior, Baek Gong-yang could not even guess what had happened.

He had ended the seclusion right after meeting Cheon Mubaeck?

The seclusion that had lasted for 40 years?

In fact, the reason why Shaolin had maintained its seclusion even after the righteous-demonic war had ended and the Demonic Cult had hidden in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains was clear.

‘Shaolin is ruined!’

Numerous talents had disappeared during the great war, and countless martial arts secret manuals and elixirs had all been destroyed and lost.

Unless it was the extreme choice of seclusion, Shaolin had fallen into a state where it was difficult to protect itself.

The fact that they had lifted the seclusion meant that they had found something to restore their past glory…

“What on earth?”

“The reason for declaring the re-entry into the martial world is as follows. A cult called the Blood Demon Sect has appeared, and they have broken the seclusion to destroy them.”

“The Blood Demon Sect?”

Baek Gong-yang tilted his head.

“Yes. They are the ones who are spreading the plague that is currently spreading in Shaanxi and Henan.”

“Hmm.”

“And also, Master Muso has expressed his intention to personally re-enter the martial world to catch the guys behind the Blood Demon Sect.”

“Behind them?”

In an instant, Baek Gong-yang’s pupils shook.

“Yes. Well, the Blood… Ghost Valley, was it?”

“…!”

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep