“I don’t think you think that you can cut off my life here and silence me?”

A suffocating tension flowed in the surroundings. Neung-heo and Gwak Cheon-hu, who were quietly behind, swallowed their saliva and put their hands on their swords.

Similarly, Dan-hu, who had been glaring at Cheon Mubaeck from the side, also gripped his sword as if he would draw it at any moment.

But Cheon Mubaeck, as if he were not affected by such tension, burst out laughing.

“Inside Mount Hua? That would go well.”

“Mount Hua cannot interfere in the affairs of Zhongnan.”

“You came as a guest of Mount Hua and you’re going to kill a guest of Mount Hua? Go ahead and try. I’ll tell you one thing. Zhongnan will then disappear from the Nine Great Sects.”

Zhong Li-hong’s eyebrows twitched.

“You’re good at using your head.”

“More than that, the premise of killing me to silence me is not valid.”

“Do you think I can’t kill you?”

“Then do you think I can’t kill you?”

“You don’t lose a single word.”

“Because I’m the type who can’t live with losing.”

“Right. What do you want?”

It was a declaration of surrender. Cheon Mubaeck shrugged his shoulders and put the Shaolin Exemption Plaque back in his bosom.

It was the power of the Shaolin Exemption Plaque.

Cheon Mubaeck’s personality was not good enough to forgive those who had tried to backstab him.

But to go against Zhongnan and to break their heads was a very burdensome thing.

The power of the orthodox sects, which had been accumulated over hundreds of years, did not come from just martial power.

The secular sects and the secular disciples that had spread throughout the martial world.

And even the connections that were entangled with numerous grudges and favors.

To face a single sect was something that required that much determination.

But it was not something that could be ignored.

Zhong Li-hong had already witnessed Cheon Mubaeck’s martial power.

He would not have lightly thought of and prepared to backstab him.

Cheon Mubaeck had thoroughly shaken up Yuk-geol-gae, who had approached him.

Although he had to pay a corresponding price, Yuk-geol-gae, on the contrary, had readily given Cheon Mubaeck the information he had obtained from the Beggars’ Sect, thinking of it as an investment.

With the information he had obtained that way, he had pressured Zhong Li-hong.

‘The evidence is already there, and since I’ve even presented the Shaolin Exemption Plaque. They won’t be able to use any more tricks.’

Even the great Zhong Li-hong could not disregard the power of the Shaolin Exemption Plaque.

“You must know the saying, ‘the Five Disasters of the Central Plains’.”

The five disasters of the Central Plains.

“…”

“The first disaster is the Demonic Sect, the second disaster is the old wolves of the great desert, the third disaster is the emperor, the fourth disaster is the living corpses hidden in Kunlun, and the fifth disaster is…”

“To make an enemy of Shaolin.”

Since when was it?

It was a saying that referred to the five disasters that were common in the Central Plains of the martial world.

There was a widespread perception among the people of the martial world that they should not touch the Five Disasters of the Central Plains. The fact that making an enemy of Shaolin was one of the five disasters meant that it was a terrifying and a thing that must be avoided.

Everyone in the martial world knew that the current Shaolin was not a martial power worthy of belonging to the Nine Great Sects, as it had declined.

But the symbolism of Shaolin.

The symbolism that represented the orthodox martial world could absolutely not be ignored.

For example, the reason why Mount Hua was going after the Blood Ghost Valley was because the fact that Shaolin had been attacked was the biggest justification.

They had tried to attack the one who held the Shaolin Exemption Plaque?

The moment this fact spread in the martial world, the Zhongnan Sect would be in a very difficult situation.

Zhong Li-hong also knew that fact well.

“I apologize. I was blinded by the Primordial Root Scripture and was greedy. I was thinking of attacking you and stealing the Primordial Root Scripture… but I had no intention of killing you.”

Zhong Li-hong’s judgment was fast. When he realized that he could not overcome the situation, he immediately bowed his waist.

He was not a great person who was considered a strong candidate for the next sect leader for nothing. When he was blocked in front and behind, he even had the flexibility to bend his waist. Thanks to that, Cheon Mubaeck, on the contrary, strengthened his vigilance.

‘Zhongnan might be named above Mount Hua in the future.’

If there was a secret about the Primordial Root Scripture, that guy would absolutely not give up.

Cheon Mubaeck said calmly.

“Then you’ll have to tell me. About the Primordial Root Scripture.”

Zhong Li-hong’s brow narrowed.

It was a kind of deal.

To accept the apology and to bury it as if nothing had happened, and in return, to share the secret about the Primordial Root Scripture.

Zhong Li-hong’s head spun quickly.

‘I’ve trapped myself.’

Wasn’t it a case of falling into a trap he had dug himself?

‘But even so…’

Looking at him, it seemed he had a hunch about something about the Primordial Root Scripture.

There was no way it would work if he kept insisting that it was a Taoist scripture here.

‘Then…’

At the thought that flashed through his mind, Zhong Li-hong soon opened his mouth.

“The sacred objects of The Complete Truth Sect are not just one.”

“I’ve heard that there are several.”

“To be precise, there are five. They were called the Five Sacred Objects of The Complete Truth Sect.”

“You mean there are four more like the Primordial Root Scripture?”

Zhong Li-hong nodded his head.

“According to the secret history that has been passed down since the time of The Complete Truth Sect, it was said that the five sacred objects must be gathered. That’s all.”

“What happens if the five are gathered?”

“I don’t know. Because there is no record.”

“So you couldn’t give up on the Primordial Root Scripture?”

Zhong Li-hong said in an unwavering tone.

“I am aiming for the next sect leader of Zhongnan.”

“It seems so. Your ambition is revealed on your face.”

“Someday, someone has to gather all five sacred objects and to assert that Zhongnan is the pinnacle of the Taoist studies of the Central Plains. If I achieve such a thing, isn’t it a great achievement worthy of becoming the next sect leader?”

Cheon Mubaeck did not answer and looked at Zhong Li-hong for a long time.

“Hmm. I understand.”

A meaningful smile appeared on Cheon Mubaeck’s lips.

* * *

Coming out of the pavilion, Cheon Mubaeck snorted.

“Where are you trying to pull a trick?”

“What trick do you mean? Didn’t it end well?”

Neung-heo tilted his head.

He had prevented their plan to attack.

And he had even received an apology.

Then what? Zhongnan could not even plan to attack Cheon Mubaeck again. Because they knew that Cheon Mubaeck had the Shaolin Exemption Plaque and the evidence.

So he could leave aside the worry that Zhongnan would attack, aiming for the Primordial Root Scripture.

Cheon Mubaeck said as if he were ridiculous.

“That guy, he’s hiding something.”

“Hiding something?”

“He seems to know. To gather the five sacred objects and to build an achievement? It’s plausible, but that’s not it.”

“What on earth do you mean…”

“It was the eyes of a martial artist.”

Cheon Mubaeck had clearly seen Zhong Li-hong’s eyes.

It was not the gaze of one who coveted simple honor and power.

It was the gaze of a martial artist.

The pupils of one who explores martial arts and covets a higher realm.

“But did you just come out?”

Cheon Mubaeck shrugged his shoulders.

Although he knew that The Complete Truth Sect had several sacred objects.

He had heard for the first time that the five gifts had to be gathered.

Although Zhong Li-hong had said that he did not know what would happen if the five sacred objects were gathered, Cheon Mubaeck’s eyes could not be deceived.

‘I have a rough idea…’

Although Zhong Li-hong had thought that Cheon Mubaeck would not know at all, that was a big miscalculation.

Cheon Mubaeck was the history of the martial world.

Although he might not know the detailed secret histories, the one who had directly heard and had experienced the overall flow and the numerous stories was none other than Cheon Mubaeck.

Since it was the Five Sacred Objects, Cheon Mubaeck also had a few things that came to his mind.

On the contrary, the talk of the Five Sacred Objects was Zhong Li-hong’s intention to use Cheon Mubaeck.

“He might be thinking of letting me gather the five sacred objects with my curiosity.”

“Huh? Aren’t those things that Zhongnan desperately needs? The Primordial Root Scripture, those guys who were burning their eyes to get that shabby Taoist scripture.”

Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head.

“If I gather them all, then they can just stay still and kill me, can’t they?”

“…Don’t tell me they would go that far.”

“It was those guys who had once thought of such a thing. Ambition does not disappear easily.”

And something important enough not to give up on that ambition.

Right, the five sacred objects of The Complete Truth Sect, including the Primordial Root Scripture.

“Then, are you going to go around collecting them?”

“No.”

Cheon Mubaeck shook his head.

Although he had a rough idea, was there a need to go around collecting them one by one?

It was not something that Cheon Mubae-ck needed right now, and it was not something that was useful.

Of course, it would be helpful if it was helpful, but that was not what was urgent right now.

“Then what about the Primordial Root Scripture?”

“Keep it well. There will be a time to use it.”

“What… yes. I understand.”

Cheon Mubaeck had no intention of being swayed by Zhongnan’s intentions.

‘You bastards. I’ve got my eye on you.’

And today’s incident, he had no intention of letting it go with just an apology.

* * *

The first to descend Mount Hua were Cheonghyeonjin and the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, including Gukbo.

They headed straight for Anhui Province.

“Well, you’ve achieved your purpose.”

Gwak Cheon-hu made an ambiguous expression at Cheon Mubaeck’s words.

He could not make a judgment.

‘Anyway, I’ve sought external help…’

The original purpose was to get help for the tragedy that had occurred in Chongqing.

It was achieved.

But the fact that Mount Hua had headed for Anhui. And the fact that it was Cheon Mubaeck who had come to Chongqing was a little bothersome.

‘Would this be better?’

But the more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was somehow more reassuring for Cheon Mubaeck to go with him than for Mount Hua to come to Chongqing.

Of course, he did not know what his father would think.

Cheon Mubaeck, after keeping a close eye on the movements of the Zhongnan Sect, confirmed that there was no particular movement and headed straight for Chongqing.

“Cheon-hu.”

“…?”

“How is the Chongqing martial world doing?”

Gwak Cheon-hu was not easily accustomed to the old man-like tone that sometimes came out.

The tone of an old man that popped out from that young, white, and small face.

No matter how he looked at it, he was so suspicious that he might have undergone a reverse-aging process.

“Our Flying Sword Sect is in charge of one wing of the white path. In the black-way, the guys from the Red Dragon Faction, the younger brother sect of the Great Dragon Gang, are wielding their power.”

“Just the two?”

“Right. The rest are small and medium-sized sects.”

“What are the peculiarities of the annihilated sects?”

“Peculiarities…”

Gwak Cheon-hu was lost in thought for a moment.

The five annihilated sects had no particular commonality.

But if he had to nitpick…

“The fact that they have a deep history, and that they have their own unique secret martial arts?”

“A deep history?”

“Although their scale is small, they are sects that have been established in Chongqing for a long time and have continued their history for at least half a century. All five sects.”

“Hmm.”

Cheon Mubaeck stroked his chin.

In fact, it was a little hard to see that as a commonality.

Since Chongqing had no large sects, the small sects had been doing well for a long time without taking down their signs.

So it was a bit of a stretch to see that as a commonality.

“I’ll have to go to Chongqing and see for myself. Since the members of the Beggars’ Sect are moving, I’ll be able to get something if I go.”

“When you enter Chongqing, you can immediately check the annihilated sect on the way. Are you going to take a look?”

“Eum.”

Cheon Mubaeck, who had been thinking for a moment, slowly nodded his head.

It was also necessary to inspect the scene.

“And there is a survivor here.”

“A survivor?”

“The sect leader’s young daughter and the youngest son, who was just five years old, happened to be away, so only those two siblings survived.”

“Well. That’s a very unfortunate thing. Oh my, those poor things.”

Neung-heo clicked his tongue.

“Those little things, oh my… everyone except those siblings died?”

“Unfortunately, it turned out that way.”

“Doesn’t the sect leader have a deep grudge?”

“No way. The sect leader of the Sacred Fire Sect was famous in Chongqing for his high reputation.”

“Wait a minute.”

It was then.

Neung-heo and Gwak Cheon-hu, who had been talking, flinched at Cheon Mubaeck’s cold voice.

Neung-heo turned his head and was surprised to see Cheon Mubaeck’s face.

‘What is it?’

It was a strange reaction. Cheon Mubaeck urged Gwak Cheon-hu with a sharp voice.

“The annihilated sect is the Sacred Fire Sect?”

At the sudden momentum, Gwak Cheon-hu could not answer and just nodded his head.

At Cheon Mubaeck’s low voice, which seemed to have clenched his teeth, the surrounding atmosphere rapidly sank.

“Neung-heo.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, we’re going to Chongqing at full speed.”

Before Neung-heo could answer, Cheon Mubaeck kicked off the ground and ran out like an arrow.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep