The Return of the Sword God Chapter 139 : A Windfall That Rolled in on Its Own. -01

Chapter 139: A Windfall That Rolled in on Its Own. -01

As if it was not even worth consideration, the Hao Sect Leader answered at once.

And this would not have been any different just because it was the Neo-Outer Murim instead of the Orthodox Martial World.

Even so, while the Orthodox Martial World consisted of fellow people of the Central Plains, to those of the Neo-Outer Murim they were foreigners.

If anything, the discrimination would have been worse, not lesser.

“So I hope the Hao Sect makes the choice that is best for the Hao Sect. Even simply refraining from cooperating with forces from beyond the frontier would be beneficial to the Orthodox Martial World. Of course, I have no intention of forcing or pressuring you into a decision.”

“I know. Since you have co in person to say this, how could I not understand? If it were not you, Great Hero Ban, I would not have co out even if the heads of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families had asked to et .”

“Thank you.”

“Are you not Hee-ju’s friend, Great Hero Ban? That ans you are also a friend of our main sect.”

From the mont she received a proposal that was close to a threat, the Hao Sect Leader had already made her decision to so extent.

Though it was called a proposal, the mont they cooperated, it was obvious they would be used like slaves.

And in the end, it was clear that it would turn into a fight among the Central Plains’ martial forces.

From the standpoint of the Neo-Outer Murim, there was nothing better than the Central Plains tearing each other apart.

Then Ban Hojin’s single remark had decisively tipped the scale in her heart.

If he had asked her to help the Orthodox Martial World—if he had brought up past ties and urged her to join them—she would have felt resistance.

However, instead of urging her to join, Ban Hojin had told her to choose whatever was most advantageous for the Hao Sect.

That very point moved the Hao Sect Leader’s heart.

“I am grateful that you would say so, Sect Leader.”

“No, we are the ones who should be grateful. Have you not helped us greatly and shown us much consideration? I can only feel sorry that we have not been able to help you properly. However, when it cos to you, Great Hero Ban, the matter is different. To be honest, we cannot trust the Orthodox Martial World. We have suffered many betrayals in the past. But you are different.”

“Simply maintaining neutrality is already helping . You have made a truly difficult decision.”

Ban Hojin shook his head.

He understood all too well what feelings prompted her words.

But from the Hao Sect’s perspective, it was better to have at least one safeguard—one excuse.

Setting that aside, from Ban Hojin’s standpoint, he was more than satisfied if the Hao Sect did not join hands with the Four Tyrants of the World.

‘The invasion of the Four Tyrants of the World was one thing, but what tornted the Orthodox Martial World the most was the Unorthodox and Demonic factions within the Central Plains Murim.’

The Four Tyrants of the World were enemies so formidable that even if the entire Central Plains Murim united as one, victory could not be guaranteed.

Yet in his previous life, instead of joining forces, they had divided into Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic paths and attacked one another.

Naturally, they had no choice but to lose the war.

They had fallen into division when they should have been uniting their strength. From the Four Tyrants’ perspective, it must have been like blowing their noses without lifting a hand.

‘But this ti is different.’

They had tried to recreate the sa scenario as in his previous life, but Ban Hojin had prevented it in advance.

Then the result would also be different.

No—he intended to make it so.

That was precisely why he had been preparing steadily from early on.

“Very well. I will do as you say, Great Hero Ban.”

“As you have made such a difficult decision, I would like to offer you a gift in return.”

“A gift?”

“Yes. Danwi is dead.”

“Danwi… do you perhaps an the Monster King?”

The Hao Sect Leader asked cautiously.

The na Danwi carried considerable weight for her.

He was a master known as one of the Murim Ten Kings, despite having no backing force.

So when she heard that he was dead, the Hao Sect Leader was genuinely shocked.

“That is correct.”

“Did you… capture him yourself, Great Hero Ban?”

“Yes.”

Her pupils slowly widened.

But only to that extent.

Ever since he had single-handedly captured the Blue and Red Twin Fiends, she had already begun to suspect.

She had wondered whether Ban Hojin’s martial prowess had reached the level of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.

Not only her, but Nan Hee-ju had thought the sa, so her surprise was brief.

Instead, the Hao Sect Leader’s eyes shone even brighter.

“I was just thinking that he had not shown himself for far too long. So there was a clash between you and him. Hm? Wait a mont. Surely…?”

Her eyes trembled violently for an instant.

As she spoke, sothing dawned on her.

Realizing that there had been no point of contact whatsoever between Ban Hojin and Danwi, she stared at him with a look of disbelief.

“That is correct. He was sent by the Shangguan Family. The problem is that there is no evidence. He indirectly admitted to having dealings with the Shangguan Family, but words alone have their limits. I attempted to find proof, but in the end, I failed.”

“So it turned out that way after all.”

It was a brief explanation, yet sufficient.

If it had been a tacit transaction from the beginning, there was no chance evidence would remain.

Even if the Monster King and the Shangguan Family Head were confronted face to face, they would deny everything.

At the sa ti, the Hao Sect Leader once again felt the malice harbored by the Shangguan Family.

“Be wary of the Shangguan Family.”

“I have been too distracted by Ironblood Fortress to pay attention, but this has truly awakened . It may be that the Shangguan Family has been aiming for this all along.”

The Hao Sect Leader clearly understood the aning behind the gift Ban Hojin had ntioned.

That was why she was so grateful.

He had pointed out sothing she herself had failed to consider.

“There is one more gift. Danwi is dead, but that vacant seat will soon be filled.”

“You an the Bangcheon Sect Leader, correct?”

“You already found out.”

“There was not much information, but there was so. I was truly startled. They have not been active for over two hundred years.”

“Which ans that for over two hundred years, there has been no war great enough to require the Bangcheon Sect to step forward.”

The Hao Sect Leader let out a long sigh.

When she shifted her perspective, she realized his words were true.

And that ant the current situation was just that dangerous, causing her to swallow unconsciously.

“…It will be all right, won’t it?”

“If everyone does their utmost for the sake of peace, would we not achieve a good result?”

“Hohoho.”

Though it was a conventional answer, sohow when Ban Hojin said it, it inspired trust.

The one who went around claiming his dream was to live as a carefree idler was none other than Ban Hojin.

And for him to laze about and live idly, the world naturally had to be at peace.

“I, too, intend to work hard for the sake of my dream.”

“Shall we hear Hee-ju’s opinion as well? It is a matter she ought to know anyway.”

“I have no objection, but will she not feel slighted with you later, Sect Leader?”

“They say even ferocious beasts raise their young to be strong. Compared to that, this is nothing.”

At the Hao Sect Leader’s nonchalant tone, as though it were insignificant, Ban Hojin let out a quiet chuckle.

He knew well how dearly she cherished Nan Hee-ju, despite her words.

She was both her only disciple and her adopted daughter—Nan Hee-ju.

“I heard you called for .”

Perhaps instructions had been given separately through Voice Transmission; as the door opened, Nan Hee-ju entered with composed steps.

Seeing her as though she had been waiting right outside the door, Ban Hojin let out a dry chuckle.

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

Nan Hee-ju shot him a slightly sullen glance when she saw him smirking at her.

Her eyes silently asked what was so amusing.

But instead of answering, Ban Hojin quietly sipped his tea.

In his stead, the Hao Sect Leader explained to Nan Hee-ju the conversation they had just had—omitting only the conclusion.

“What do you think?”

“Hmm!”

Given the gravity of the matter, Nan Hee-ju did not make a hasty decision.

Since it was not sothing that could be decided lightly, instead of answering right away, she subtly examined the expressions of both the Hao Sect Leader and Ban Hojin.

Then she noticed sothing peculiar.

Though they had been discussing an issue of great importance, the atmosphere between them was not particularly tense.

Surely their thoughts must have differed.

In a sense, it was a situation where they could have ended up pointing blades at one another, yet both their expressions were remarkably calm.

“It certainly isn’t sothing that can be decided easily.”

“Do we absolutely have to choose one side?”

“Hmm?”

“Just because options are presented doesn’t an we must choose only from among them. What matters is our main sect, not other forces.”

“Oh?”

The Hao Sect Leader looked at Nan Hee-ju with mild surprise as she spoke her thoughts clearly and without hesitation.

She had not expected such an answer, and a satisfied smile naturally ford at her lips.

“So I would like to make a third choice.”

“Could you be more specific?”

“Maintaining neutrality is one way. I feel sorry to you, Oppa, but if we think solely of our main sect’s safety. Honestly, no matter which side we join, our main sect would not be particularly welcod. In that case, I believe it would be better not to join hands with either side.”

“Our Hee-ju… you’ve truly grown.”

The Hao Sect Leader looked at Nan Hee-ju with a proud expression.

It was an answer that pleased her greatly.

Moreover, it was the sa conclusion she and Ban Hojin had reached.

“Were your conclusions the sa as mine?”

“That’s right. To be precise, Great Hero Ban was the one who said it. I hadn’t thought that far. I could only agonize, unable to choose either way.”

“Ah.”

“I think I can truly entrust the Hao Sect to you now.”

“No.”

Nan Hee-ju shook her head vigorously at the Hao Sect Leader’s words.

She believed she still had much to learn.

And she also thought that her Master needed to remain in the position of Sect Leader for a long ti in order to live well.

She had once heard that when soone who had always worked suddenly stopped, the sense of emptiness that followed could turn into depression. Thus, Nan Hee-ju hoped her Master would remain the Hao Sect Leader for many years to co.

“Not at all. You’re better than I am. Don’t you think so?”

“I think so as well. It was sowhat unexpected.”

“Oppa!”

Embarrassed, Nan Hee-ju burst out loudly.

Her face flushed red in a way uncharacteristic of her.

Watching her disciple like that, the Hao Sect Leader smiled in contentnt.

Their bickering almost made them look like young lovers at a glance.

‘Hohohoho.’

So rather than stopping them, the Hao Sect Leader simply watched with a pleased smile.

Holding a faint thread of expectation in her heart.

Staying at Ban Hojin’s residence on Songshan together with his disciple Jeong Iryong, Sang Il-gi felt it anew.

Not only Jeong Iryong, but the other mbers of the Three-Man Group had also improved by leaps and bounds compared to the last ti he saw them.

Their internal and external martial arts had been well tempered, but what impressed Sang Il-gi most was sothing else.

It was their properly forged ntal fortitude.

‘This is a precious experience that can only be gained through real combat.’

And it had not even been gained through easy fights.

It was ntal strength acquired only by enduring arduous battles.

In fact, by rely winning, there was little to learn or gain.

On the contrary, one often learned and gained far more from defeat.

“Chaah!”

Sang Il-gi felt that clearly during their sparring.

Seeing the three of them charge forward with the resolve to pour out everything they had, even while knowing their shortcomings, he wore a satisfied smile.

“Let us stop here.”

“Huff! Huff! Thank you!”

Though less than half a shijin had passed, Seonwu Bang was already gasping for breath.

Since he had challenged with his full strength, the expenditure of stamina had been just as severe.

Yet there was not a trace of frustration on his face.

Instead, wearing a refreshed expression, he respectfully offered a Fist-Clasp Salute toward Sang Il-gi.

“For Young Master Seonwu, I have no particular advice to give. If you continue walking your own path as you are now, that will suffice.”