CCTnovel Chapter 468
Chapter 468
Chief Seong’s face hardened.If the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal had lost its effect, it would not be easy for Unhwi to show the same power he had displayed against the Chaotic Heaven Gate, Namgung Ho, or even Yeongunseong.
That made the situation truly serious.
Unhwi had always drawn his sword prepared to perish together with his enemy, but if he no longer had anything to support that resolve, then all it meant was that his chances of dying had risen.
“...You really should have told us properly. How could you go to a place like that alone?”
“I judged that it was the right choice. Whether I died alone or all of us died—between those two options, I did not hesitate at all.”
Unhwi opened his eyes and looked up at Chief Seong.
“If you had been in the same situation, Chief Seong, you would have made the same choice.”
That was true.
It wasn’t wrong.
If Chief Seong had been Unhwi, he would have gone alone in that situation.
He would have gone alone and settled it himself.
“Wonyang. Ju Soa.”
The two women turned their heads.
“The same goes for both of you.”
Unhwi’s words lodged in their chests.
“So let us leave this matter at that.”
Chief Seong let out a sigh and asked, “How long do you think recovery will take?”
“If we are speaking of recovery, at least fifteen days.”
“...Pardon?”
That was far too long, but it was correct.
His Void-Origin Energy was intact.
If not for that, it would have taken not fifteen days, but closer to a full month.
Of course, he was speaking not of complete recovery, but of returning to a level where he could function as a martial artist.
“I should be able to move in about four days, so I will have to rest here for the time being.”
“...Understood. I will keep watch.”
Unhwi closed his eyes again.
He needed to recover.
Chief Seong and the two women naturally rose from their seats and left the room.
The door closed behind them.
***
The next morning.
The first floor of the inn.
Three people were eating.
To be precise, only Chief Seong was eating.
Ju Soa was stirring her soup, and Wonyang was staring out the window.
“Are you not going to eat?”
At Chief Seong’s question, Ju Soa answered, “I have no appetite.”
“Tsk. Eat. A martial artist cannot go without food.”
“...Fine.”
Ju Soa reluctantly scooped up a spoonful of rice.
That was when it happened.
The inn door opened.
Two men entered.
They were dressed like martial artists.
Swords hung at their waists.
It was nothing unusual.
Martial artists coming and going in a village like this was common.
But their conversation reached their ears.
“I’m telling you, a secret realm is opening!”
“Come on, where did you hear that nonsense?”
“No, listen to me. Am I the kind of man who makes things up? Last night, I heard that the Heavenly Energy Compass reacted near Sunset Valley.”
“Sunset Valley? Isn’t that half a day from here?”
“Exactly! People are already swarming there!”
“A secret realm, huh... What do you think will come out?”
“They say relics from sects destroyed during the Thousand-Year Chaos might appear. Martial arts manuals, spiritual pills, miraculous medicines, rare treasures...”
“That’s a fortune.”
“That’s why I’m saying we should hurry! If we’re late, there won’t even be scraps left!”
But the two did not share the same opinion.
“Why go there just to get killed?”
“Oh, come on...”
“Enough. Let’s get up.”
Unlike the man running his mouth, this one had a fairly good sense for the atmosphere.
The inn had already gone quiet.
Only belatedly realizing it, the talkative man swallowed hard.
Then he silently rose from his seat.
The two men left.
Silence remained in their wake.
Among those silent people were Unhwi’s companions.
“...You heard that?”
At Chief Seong’s question, Ju Soa answered, “I did.”
Wonyang murmured, “Sunset Valley. Half a day from here.”
Chief Seong stroked his chin.
“Relics from sects destroyed during the Thousand-Year Chaos...”
The three of them fell into thought for a moment.
Ju Soa spoke first.
“Shouldn’t we go?”
“...”
“He said it would take the Blood Heaven Arbiter at least fifteen days to recover. But do we not know him? He says fifteen days, but in reality, it will take longer.”
It was always like that.
When Unhwi said fifteen days, he did not mean the time needed for a complete recovery.
He meant the point where he could move like a person again and draw upon his inner force.
That was all.
“We should assume at least a month. But what if there’s some kind of spiritual medicine good for the body in that secret realm?”
“...”
“I have a good feeling about this. This time, something feels strange. I think there may really be something there.”
Wonyang nodded.
“If they are relics from the Thousand-Year Chaos... spiritual pills or medicinal herbs may appear. And in terms of time, we may be able to obtain them faster than asking Seo Hyo or anyone else.”
Chief Seong looked at the two of them.
They had a point.
But there were problems.
Two of them, in fact.
“We cannot let our identities be discovered. Right now, we are clearly people of the Blood Heaven Sect and protectors of the Blood Heaven Arbiter. Most of the people gathering at a secret realm will likely be from the righteous side of the martial world...”
“...”
“If it is revealed that we belong to the Blood Heaven Sect, things will become troublesome. No, not merely troublesome. It may become dangerous. Above all, there will be no one left to protect the Young Master.”
Ju Soa nodded.
“For the first problem, we can just hide our identities.”
“How?”
“We disguise ourselves as wandering martial artists. That’s common enough, isn’t it? Martial artists with no affiliation, traveling the world.”
Wonyang added, “My lord taught us disguise arts too... If we change our faces a little, they won’t know. Especially with our martial arts, as long as there are no witnesses, it should be fine, shouldn’t it?”
Chief Seong stared blankly at Namgung Wonyang, who had said something terrifying as if it were nothing.
This time, Ju Soa spoke.
“For the second problem, we can call the Red Demon.”
“...Hm?”
“He seemed deeply moved by the Blood Heaven Arbiter. Wouldn’t he be willing to guard him for a day or so?”
That was not a bad idea either.
The Red Demon had been astonished by Unhwi’s ability again and again.
Even if he had not said it outright, the look in his eyes whenever he watched Unhwi had been almost excessive.
A man like that would never throw away an opportunity to repay his debt to Unhwi.
Honestly, he might even see it as an opportunity.
Beyond simply settling grudges and ties, he would want to leave an even deeper impression on Unhwi.
Chief Seong rested his chin in his hand and thought for a moment before nodding.
Of course.
“We report to the Young Master first.”
If Unhwi told them not to go, they would not.
If Unhwi said they could go...
Only then would they go.
The three of them headed straight for Unhwi’s room.
***
Unhwi’s room.
There, Chief Seong told Unhwi about the secret realm.
“A secret realm...”
“Yes. They say it has opened in Sunset Valley.”
“Sunset Valley.”
Unhwi murmured the name.
Then he fell briefly into thought.
He searched through the memories of his previous life.
The secret realm of Sunset Valley.
...Was there one?
The timing was somewhat unclear, but to speak plainly, even Unhwi could not know everything.
After thinking for a moment, Unhwi gave a short answer.
“Go.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. The three of you.”
“...But leaving you alone, Young Master...”
“Since when have I been someone who needed protection?”
Chief Seong closed his mouth.
“And if you call the Red Demon, he will arrive here in less than half a day. Is there anything more that needs to be said?”
“There is not.”
Unhwi nodded, then continued.
“When you enter the secret realm, remember one thing.”
“Please tell us.”
“Do not be greedy.”
“...Pardon?”
“A secret realm is dangerous. Where there is treasure, there is always danger as well. If relics of the dead are scattered there, it also means many people died there.”
“...”
“All three of you must return alive. That is what matters most.”
Simply following at Unhwi’s side brought them many experiences and many gains.
But at times, going out like this and resolving matters among themselves was not a bad thing either.
This was true experience.
True growth.
Chief Seong bowed.
“I will keep that in mind.”
***
Outside the inn.
The three finished their preparations.
They had changed clothes.
Every trace of the Blood Heaven Sect had been erased.
They now looked like ordinary martial artists.
Their appearances had also changed.
Wonyang wore a dark blue robe and carried a sword at her waist.
She looked neat and composed, like the young heir of a small sect.
Ju Soa had changed into pale green clothing.
She had tied her hair again.
Her entire atmosphere was different.
Rather than a martial artist of the Blood Heaven Sect, she looked more like an energetic female martial artist from somewhere.
Chief Seong wore a gray robe.
A plain outfit.
But his build and gaze could not be hidden.
No matter how one looked at him, he was clearly a master.
Ju Soa said, “Your eyes are too sharp. Relax a little.”
“How am I supposed to change my eyes?”
“Just look a little blank.”
“...”
“And be careful with how you speak. Wait, didn’t you say you traveled around a lot when you were with the White Snow Spirit Regiment?”
“I traveled. Alone.”
Ju Soa gave a small laugh and said briefly, “Let me organize this first. We are martial artists of Clear Wind Manor. A small manor based in the northwest. Wonyang is the Young Manor Lord, I am the Young Manor Lord’s servant, and you are the Chief Steward in charge of everything at Clear Wind Manor.”
Rather than moving without deciding anything, it would be easier later if they set even this much in place beforehand.
“Let us depart.”
At Chief Seong’s words, the two women nodded.
The three mounted their horses.
They traveled for a full half day.
The sun was high overhead.
The three arrived at the place where the secret realm was opening.
Many people had already gathered there.
Roughly several dozen.
No...
It looked like over a hundred.
They were martial artists who had gathered from all over.
Some belonged to the righteous path, and some to the unorthodox path.
There were also many wandering martial artists of unknown affiliation.
At the entrance to the valley, a massive pillar of light rose into the sky.
A light that seemed to pierce the heavens.
It was silver-white.
“...Not all secret realms are the same, but that one is rather unusual.”
The silver-white pillar of light was even beautiful.
Chief Seong examined the surroundings.
He measured the level of the martial artists present.
Most are below the Four States of Heaven and Earth. No one at Unity of Heaven and Man.
Then his gaze stopped.
One side of the valley entrance.
A group was seated there.
A little over ten people.
Their clothing was uniform.
They belonged to a sect.
At their center stood a man.
He was young.
Around his late twenties.
Tall, with a composed appearance.
Chief Seong could sense his energy.
Heaven-Human realm.
...Who is he?
It was impossible to know every martial artist in the world, but a Heaven-Human realm martial artist maintaining such a youthful appearance?
It had to be face-retaining art.
Looking at it another way, it could mean that side had changed their appearance as well.
No.
That wasn’t it.
They had indeed changed their appearance.
Because plum blossom patterns were embroidered on their chests.
“...Is that Mount Hua?”
Chief Seong gave a hollow laugh.
“That bastard from Snow Mountain would be delighted if he saw this.”
Naturally, the bastard Chief Seong meant was Sim Munryong.
If the man still training even now to rebuild Mount Hua saw these people impersonating Mount Hua, rage would surge all the way to the top of his head.