Chapter 160: Until Next Time

【Aaaaagh—】

Letting out a scream that echoed in all directions, the tree giant was cleaved in half. Though he had unleashed every spell he knew, he could not stop Jang Woo-hyun.

Crashhhh.

The massive body of the tree giant crumbled into sand.

Where that colossal body had vanished, a withered tree person the size of a single jang remained.

“No… I can’t fall like th—”

Crunch! Crack!

Before the tree giant could finish speaking, something invisible ground him to bits.

“We can’t leave them alone.”

A small fox Beastkin, Dan Hong, walked up beside Jang Woo-hyun.

“This is our first meeting. I’m Dan Hong of the Beast King Sect.”

“Jang Woo-hyun.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Yong-i.”

The smiling fox Beastkin. Dan Hong, with her small stature, resembled a chubby raccoon more than a slender fox, and both her hands and feet gave off a round, soft impression.

Jang Woo-hyun forcibly suppressed the urge to approach her. If he let his guard down, he feared he’d end up sneaking closer to pat her on the head.

“Jang Woo-hyun!”

“Hyung-nim!”

As Jang Woo-hyun struggled to control his thoughts, Maeng Ye-ju and Jin Ha-un, having cleared the nearby enemies, rushed toward him.

“Don’t come, you punk.”

Thud.

Jang Woo-hyun stopped Jin Ha-un, who charged like a bull to embrace him, by placing a hand on his head.

“It hasn’t even been that long… oof!”

But he couldn’t stop Maeng Ye-ju, who pounced like a predator on its prey. She suddenly appeared by his side and threw her arms around him.

Being as large as the giant wolf Beastkin Kang Yong, Maeng Ye-ju enveloped Jang Woo-hyun completely in her chest.

“You really were alive!”

“Yes, I’m alive. Senior Maeng, can you let go now?”

“Wahaha! What on earth have you been doing to get even stronger?”

Still holding him tight, Maeng Ye-ju gave Jang Woo-hyun a hearty pat on the back. With her natural strength, he groaned under her grasp.

Despite seeing how much stronger Jang Woo-hyun had become, Maeng Ye-ju didn’t envy or resent him. Her words and actions were filled only with joy and affection.

“Do you have any idea how worried Cho-su-nim and I were? You were left all alone…”

As Jin Ha-un’s eyes welled up with tears, Maeng Ye-ju finally loosened her grip on Jang Woo-hyun.

“Why are you crying? Didn’t I say we’d meet again soon?”

“Soon? It’s been years! What the heck happened?”

“Yeah, what happened? You said you fought a True Immortal?”

“Not a True Immortal. It was just a sliver of power he left behind. And it wasn’t really a fight.”

“Then what?”

“I just got beaten up one-sidedly.”

“What?!”

Maeng Ye-ju burst into laughter at Jang Woo-hyun’s answer.

“Wahahahaha! Only you could get tangled with a True Immortal and still say that!”

“Let’s move the conversation elsewhere. Someone else is coming.”

Dan Hong, who had been silently listening, interjected and pointed in a direction. Flying toward them was Yong Seo-hee.

“Divine Dragon Family?”

“Who’s that now?”

Seeing her, Maeng Ye-ju and Jin Ha-un raised their qi.

“She’s with me.”

“What?”

“With you? Seriously?”

Jang Woo-hyun nodded at their question.

“You idiots, drop the killing intent! She’s on our side!”

At Maeng Ye-ju’s shout, the disciples of the Beast King Sect who had been emitting killing intent immediately retracted it.

Yong Seo-hee, watching their reactions carefully, shifted from her dragon form to her human form and walked up.

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Yong Seo-hee of the Divine Dragon Family.”

With her greeting, everyone exchanged formalities.

“So what exactly happened?”

“I fell into the Lower Realm due to the True Immortal’s power, climbed up into the Cultivators’ Domain, and along the way, I met Seo-hee and ended up traveling with her.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

His explanation was so brief and complex that no one could comprehend it.

After the battle ended.

While the Beast King Sect gathered the wounded, Jang Woo-hyun, Maeng Ye-ju, Jin Ha-un, and Yong Seo-hee spoke together in a corner, thanks to Dan Hong’s consideration.

Jang Woo-hyun summarized what he had been through.

“You went through a lot.”

“Yeah, but it seems a lot’s happened here too.”

“True.”

“I heard some things on the way from Five Elements Cult martial artists. One of them seemed to be Bi Ik-ryeon. Are you fighting them?”

“It’s not just Bi Ik-ryeon. The situation is more complicated than we thought.”

“The ones we met at Giant Tree Grove were moving together with Bi Ik-ryeon.”

“You mean the ones from Giant Tree Grove? The giants?”

Jin Ha-un nodded and continued.

“We met the giants and those assassin-like guys. And the spellcasters who summoned monsters. They’re all on the same side.”

The sect where the giants and their hybrids belonged—Pango Eternal Sect.

The group of assassins—Biyeong Hidden Sword Group.

And then, Ascension Cult and Bi Ik-ryeon.

These were the enemies currently fighting the Beast King Sect.

“There are more of them than we expected. Enough that we can’t take them lightly. And we learned something new today too.”

Maeng Ye-ju pointed to one side. A man lay there, his tattered robes somewhat familiar.

“Is that Antlered White Mask?”

The spellcaster sect—Radiant Light Sect.

Their leadership called themselves the Ten Immortals. Among them, the deer-masked Antlered White Mask had been someone Jang Woo-hyun encountered during the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect assembly.

“That’s right. Radiant Light Sect had an internal war, and the Sect Leader changed. They’re also working with Bi Ik-ryeon. That guy who used the blood-red cloud spell is Man Un, one of the Ten Immortals of Radiant Light Sect.”

It referred to the one Jang Woo-hyun cut down with the Transcendental Sword when he first arrived.

“Moreover, the Divine Dragon Family is also reaching out everywhere for some purpose. That’s why we reacted that way when this girl came flying over earlier.”

At Maeng Ye-ju’s glance, Yong Seo-hee, who had been quietly standing in one corner, flinched slightly.

Though it was just a glance, Yong Seo-hee interpreted it differently.

Everyone except Jang Woo-hyun didn’t welcome her.

Having returned to the Murim after a long time, it felt like the entire world was hostile to her.

Seeing that, Jang Woo-hyun reassured Yong Seo-hee and changed the subject.

“With the situation like this, is the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect not making a move?”

The Samcheong Tai Chi Sect claimed to be an orthodox sect. If they truly walked the righteous path, then in such times, they should have taken action.

Mediating between the warring sects or protecting those caught in the crossfire — that was the kind of conduct Jang Woo-hyun expected from an orthodox sect.

“They’re still quiet. They’re only active within their own domain. It seems like they’re waiting for something, but even we don’t know the exact reason.”

While the two continued their conversation—

Light leaked from Maeng Ye-ju’s chest, and a voice could be heard.

【Noona! Noona! You’re alive! Noona!】

It was a voice familiar to Jang Woo-hyun.

“That idiot from our sect contacted me.”

Maeng Ye-ju smiled and took out the Telepathy Division device from her chest.

Though the end was slightly chipped, the device had not been damaged during battle and clearly transmitted the other person’s voice.

“You idiot, this noona is fine.”

【Idiot? What’s that supposed to mean? Anyway, I’m just glad you’re alive.】

Last time they had spoken, Maeng Ye-ju had said she was in danger and had requested reinforcements. But Kang Yong hadn’t been able to move immediately, so the reply had only just come now.

【I don’t think I’ll be able to make it over there. The damage on this side is worse than expected.】

“Really? Can’t be helped then. Things are more or less handled here too, so don’t worry. But it’s a shame. I had something to show you if you came.”

【Something to show me? I don’t know what it is, but that’s not what matters right now. Something strange happened.】

“What is it?”

【Someone from Geomgak is looking for Woo-hyun.】

“…What?”

Maeng Ye-ju’s reaction was a beat late at the sudden news.

【During battle, someone from Geomgak helped us. After the fight, he said he was looking for Jang Woo-hyun of the Cheonrin Sword Alliance.】

Maeng Ye-ju looked at Jang Woo-hyun, but he just wore a surprised expression.

“What for, all of a sudden?”

【How should I know? He just said he was delivering a message. The Samcheong Tai Chi Sect wants to meet Woo-hyun. If anyone knows his whereabouts or can contact him, they’re to deliver the message. I’m worried you caused some trouble somewhere.】

“What kind of trouble?”

【You’re always fighting, so maybe you stabbed someone somewhere. Don’t tell me… you stabbed Cheon Heo-jin or something?】

“What nonsense are you talking about? If that happened, would the Tai Chi Sect sit still? They’d swarm out and hunt him down.”

【Well, that’s true too.】

“But why Geomgak and not the Tai Chi Sect? Weren’t the Geomgak guys nearly wiped out in the battle with the Dragon Heaven Lord?”

Geomgak belonged to the Ten Sects, but it was hard to call it a proper sect.

They had few members, didn’t involve themselves in Murim affairs, and served only one of the Six Heavens — the Lord of the Sword Sky, Geomcheonju.

The only thing Geomgak members did was deliver Geomcheonju’s messages or handle affairs in Central Heavens Martial Realm on his behalf.

After the battle of the Six Heavens, Geomcheonju had died, so Maeng Ye-ju assumed all Geomgak martial artists had disappeared as well.

【I don’t know either. He just said he was asked to deliver the message.】

“Really? What’s the message he asked you to deliver?”

【It was a bit strange. He said to tell Jang Woo-hyun this: someone is waiting at the bookstore, so please come there.】

Maeng Ye-ju blinked a few times at the odd words.

“…What does that mean?”

【Noona, did you hit your head during the fight or something? How would I know? If I knew, would I be sitting here like this? Use your brain a little. Get a grip. You seem even dumber than usual.】

At Kang Yong’s provocation, Jang Woo-hyun let out a chuckle and spoke.

“Kang Yong, what trouble would I have caused?”

【…Huh?】

A brief silence.

【No way… Jang Woo-hyun?】

“Yeah, it’s me.”

【What the hell! Why are you there, man!】

“Well, I ended up helping Senior Maeng.”

【Stay right there! I’m coming now. Don’t go anywhere!】

Even through the Telepathy Division device, it was obvious how agitated Kang Yong was.

“Calm down for now and explain a bit more. Are you sure someone at the bookstore asked for me?”

【Yes, he definitely said so.】

“You understand what that means?”

Jang Woo-hyun nodded in response to Maeng Ye-ju’s question.

At first, he was surprised while listening. Then he became suspicious.

The timing was too perfect — it was as if someone knew he had returned to the Central Heavens Martial Realm.

But the moment he learned who was looking for him, those thoughts vanished.

‘Taecheong Divine Sovereign.’

The old man he had met at the bookstore before going to the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect.

He was one of the Ten Thrones and the Supreme Sect Leader of the Tai Chi Sect — Taecheong Divine Sovereign.

A master of his level might have sensed Jang Woo-hyun’s return.

Even when Jang Woo-hyun had reached the Absolute Realm in the Central Plains, he had sensed demonic practitioners from the Demonic Heaven Palace approaching from afar. Similarly, a top-level master in the Central Heavens Martial Realm might have sensed something unseen.

【Jang Woo-hyun! Anyway, wait there! I’m coming now! Noona, see you later!】

With those words, the light disappeared from the Telepathy Division device. Kang Yong had ended the transmission.

“It’s a master from the Tai Chi Sect I’m connected to.”

“Really? But why did someone from Geomgak come instead of the Tai Chi Sect?”

Jang Woo-hyun shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

“Then are you going to the Tai Chi Sect?”

“I should. I had business in their territory anyway.”

Due to the traces of the True Immortal left on Shin Jin-cheol and Yongwangrin, Jang Woo-hyun had planned to go to Cho-su’s home.

“That’s a shame.”

“Senior Maeng, are you returning to your sect?”

“I think I have to. Now that Radiant Light Sect is involved too, we need to reassess the situation. And I should take that guy back for treatment.”

Maeng Ye-ju pointed at Antlered White Mask, lying off to one side.

“Seo-hee, what about you?”

“I’m going to return to my clan as well.”

Having returned to the Central Heavens Martial Realm after a long time, she found her clan at war — in a way she couldn’t understand at all.

To understand the reason, Yong Seo-hee decided to return to her family. And there was something else she needed to find there.

‘Yongwangrin.’

Yong Seo-hee’s gaze turned toward the weapon hanging at Jang Woo-hyun’s waist.

Yongwangrin, the Dharma Treasure devourer. And the dragon from her memories that consumed Dharma Treasures and minerals.

That faint memory likely came from a record she had seen in the archives. That was why she planned to return to her clan to investigate it.

“Really? Thanks for everything.”

Jang Woo-hyun had gained much thanks to Yong Seo-hee. On the way, he had been able to cultivate his martial arts, move swiftly, and without her guidance, he would’ve wandered aimlessly before ever reaching the Central Heavens Martial Realm.

“No, I’m the one who should thank you. If you hadn’t saved me, I might still be trapped in that horrible place.”

Yong Seo-hee bowed deeply, expressing her gratitude to Jang Woo-hyun once more. At her words, Jin Ha-un muttered quietly, “Did she just call him ‘Orabeoni’?” and glanced at Jang Woo-hyun, while Maeng Ye-ju narrowed her eyes.

Smiling at their playful reactions, Jang Woo-hyun extended his hand and shook hands with Yong Seo-hee.

“Can you go alone? Or should I escort you to a safe place?”

“Escort her, huh? As expected of our sister-in-la—urk!”

Jin Ha-un, trying to joke again from the side, let out a choked sound as he got struck in the throat.

“No need to worry. She can just come with us.”

As Jang Woo-hyun had seen before, Geonmok had paths that connected to various places, and Maeng Ye-ju explained that the current destination of the Beast King Sect included a route leading into the Divine Dragon Family’s territory.

“You’ll be okay?”

“Yes. I’m already grateful just for making it this far together. And you saw how fast I fly, right? I’m good at running away, so don’t worry. Also, this. It’s a gift.”

Yong Seo-hee handed him a red marble the size of a thumbnail.

“I made it during the journey. It’ll be useful later.”

“Yonghyeolhwan? You’re giving away something so valuable.”

Maeng Ye-ju recognized what it was as soon as she saw it.

“It’s a pill made from dragon’s blood. It’s a type of recovery medicine, particularly good against things like poison or curses. It’s not something easy to make, and you definitely don’t just hand it out.”

Yong Seo-hee had gathered her strength little by little while flying to create the Yonghyeolhwan — to repay Jang Woo-hyun’s kindness.

“I have nothing to give in return.”

“You already saved me. And you protected me throughout the journey. Thank you again.”

Yong Seo-hee offered her thanks with a bright smile. It was so refreshing it uplifted the mood of everyone watching.

A moment later.

She exchanged farewells with Dan Hong as well, and then everyone went their separate ways toward their respective destinations.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep