Chapter 132
After listening to the conversation between master and disciple, Youngho spoke.
“Approximately when do you believe the Sword Emperor will ascend?”
“At the very least, within two years. Why do you ask such a question?”
“Because Kunlun is the place closest to the Demonic Cult.”
His tone was calm, yet the aning contained within his words could hardly be called calm.
eting Heo Do’s face, which had hardened like stone, Youngho continued,
“I am not asking you to fight. I rely hope that you will take your disciples and descend from Mount Kunlun.”
“That is not possible.”
“Because of the will of your ancestors?”
“Yes.”
Youngho did not know how to be flustered. As though he had already anticipated Heo Do’s response, he rely continued speaking without pause.
“In that case, I will not ask you to bend your will. In the first place, I have no reason to look after Kunlun.”
“Then why did you make such a proposal?”
It was a question asked out of genuine curiosity. Though Youngho was not devoid of basic humanity, he was hardly the sort of righteous man who would concern himself with the Orthodox Sect without reason.
To begin with, this was not even a matter that the Orthodox Sect itself particularly concerned itself with.
At Heo Do’s question, Youngho pondered briefly before answering,
“I am granting the request of a friend who once died.”
“What do you an by ‘once died’? Speak clearly—did he die or did he live?”
“At the very least, all the friends I know are dead.”
“Hmm… I do not understand what you are saying.”
“You need not force yourself to understand. I am simply placed in a rather special situation.”
Heo Do was curious about what kind of situation Youngho currently faced, but he did not press further.
He had the feeling that even if he asked, Youngho would not give him a proper answer.
“In any case, I have one more proposal.”
“What is it?”
“Evacuate at least half of your disciples. No—at the very least, evacuate all the children, including the Second-Generation Disciples.”
“You speak nonsense. Even the children are disciples of Kunlun.”
“I understand.”
“You concede more easily than I expected.”
“Did I not tell you? I am rely granting a friend’s request. My friend never told to force the matter.”
“I see. However, child, there is one thing I will tell you.”
“What is it?”
Even as Heo Do spoke with a faintly solemn expression, Youngho maintained his impassive face.
“A disciple of Kunlun does not retreat before evil enemies standing before them.”
“I respect that. At the very least, I will not call it foolish.”
“…Very well.”
Though Heo Do wore a sowhat displeased expression, Youngho paid it no mind.
“Then I will now ask what I originally wished to ask.”
“If it concerns Mount Kunlun, there is nothing I cannot answer.”
“I have heard that Mount Kunlun resembles the Immortal Realm more than any other place in the Central Plains.”
“To be precise, it is not that the terrain resembles it, but rather that a portion of the Immortal Realm’s energy lingers there.”
“Useful information. In any case, I wish to communicate with an Immortal here.”
“Hmm….”
As Heo Do hesitated, Youngho spoke with a faint note of regret.
“As expected, it would be difficult?”
“No, it is not impossible. The probability is exceedingly low, but the Immortals occasionally speak, regardless of age or gender.”
“Is it possible to et one?”
The faint spark of hope had, before he realized it, begun to burn fiercely.
After a brief silence, Heo Do asked,
“For what reason do you wish to converse with an Immortal?”
“I wish to receive instruction regarding martial arts.”
“Instruction?”
Heo Do let out a small, incredulous laugh.
“I will speak frankly. Your current martial prowess surpasses that of most Immortals. If you were to ascend right now, you would rank among the stronger beings within the Immortal Realm. Then why, precisely, do you seek to beco stronger?”
The aning behind Heo Do’s words was simple. By comprehending the principles of nature and becoming an Immortal, one could escape death and attain eternal life. Attainnt in martial arts would naturally follow over the endless passage of ti. So why seek re martial instruction rather than the thod of becoming an Immortal?
It was a reasonable question—and one born of ignorance.
Youngho let out a long, sighing breath.
“The Heavenly Demon is too strong. To speak honestly, I have no confidence in defeating him. He is that overwhelmingly powerful.”
At that, Heo Do’s eyes widened in shock.
“For soone of your strength to say such a thing?”
“Yes. If we fought a hundred tis, I would lose all hundred. He is that strong.”
At those despairing words, shadows fell across the faces of Taehuh and the elders, as well as Heo Do himself.
Taehuh had never imagined that Youngho would claim he would be utterly defeated by the Heavenly Demon.
He had known Youngho was no ordinary Junior Disciple, but the words that left his mouth were painfully realistic.
And Heo Do, having sensed even a fragnt of Youngho’s power, could only feel despair. If what Youngho said was true, then even if there were ten of him, he would not be able to defeat the current Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
A chill ran down his spine.
At this rate, it might be possible to inflict significant damage on the Demonic Cult, but ultimately, the world would fall into their hands.
If there had been ti, perhaps it would have been different—but the Demonic Cult had not given Youngho the chance to grow properly.
Heo Do thought for a mont, then suddenly stood from his seat.
“It is not impossible.”
“If there is a possibility, then that is sufficient.”
“It may take quite a long ti.”
“Even up to a year would be fine.”
“The chance of eting an Immortal strong enough to instruct you is also slim.”
“Then we must at least attempt it. Otherwise, the horrifying reality of a Demonic Dominion of the World will unfold.”
“As far as I know, you are the only one who has ever acted on the idea of seeking instruction from an Immortal.”
“Why haven’t others tried?”
“They do not believe in Immortals.”
“…?”
Youngho could not understand. They did not believe in Immortals?
“Those sects in the Daoist tradition do believe in Immortals. But that belief exists only because of teachings handed down by the minor sects.”
“Their true hearts are different?”
“Exactly. Humans naturally do not believe in what they cannot see. Instinctively, they do not believe in the existence of Immortals.”
“But before stands a Half-Immortal.”
“Do I truly look like an Immortal? Consider yourself lucky if I am not dismissed as a senile old man.”
“….”
There was nothing to say.
“You have seen the Immortal with your own eyes. My words must make sense, yes?”
“Yes, he was a remarkably strong Immortal.”
Honestly, even now, Youngho did not think he could defeat the Immortal he had t.
“Because you witnessed the Immortal directly, our communication is smooth. Even my disciples cannot follow our conversation.”
Youngho watched Taehuh, who calmly sipped tea, his hands trembling so slightly that it was clear he was masking his agitation.
“I have no concern for the mortal world since all I need now is to ascend. Yet hearing your words, I feel a trace of attachnt.”
“That is good news.”
“Enough idle chatter—follow . I will show you where I usually cultivate. That place is the easiest spot to encounter an Immortal.”
“I understand. My apologies for the intrusion, Sect Leader. I will take my leave for now.”
“Ah, yes…”
Taehuh awkwardly accompanied Youngho’s departure.
Even though there had been a considerable distance between them, Youngho caught up instantly, and Heo Do clicked his tongue lowly.
‘For a Sword Emperor, he can’t even lose to a single young man.’
Standing beside Heo Do, Youngho posed a casual question.
“Have you truly developed an attachnt?”
“Yes. But it is not born from concern for the world.”
“I understand. No matter how close you have beco to an Immortal, you are still human. It must be concern for Kunlun that stirs within you.”
“Indeed. As you said, I am not a man with the capacity to think of the world. I only worry for Kunlun.”
“Then why did you refuse my suggestion to evacuate?”
“Do you understand the thinking of the Orthodox Sect?”
“I understand it to so degree. But it is hard to empathize fully.”
“Exactly. That is beyond your understanding. No matter how irreproachable your character seems to the Unorthodox Faction, in the end, you are also part of it.”
“Well, let it be so.”
Youngho could not help but smirk.
The Sword Emperor was indeed a remarkable figure—one of the few who had reford the corrupt Murim Alliance.
Hence, he was upright. Strong convictions were admirable. But if those convictions included trust in others, the situation changed.
Youngho, too, had people he trusted. Chief among them was his master, and also the Asura Squad, which acted as his hands and feet.
However, if that trust had no calculations behind it, or if it led to damage, the dynamics changed.
Currently, the trust Heo Do displayed was simply unshakable faith.
No defenses, no contingency plans—just the belief that Kunlun would remain safe.
This was not mockery of Heo Do’s conviction. It was ideal, and Kunlun could surely live up to it—assuming the opponent was not the Demonic Cult.
The Demonic Cult’s strength was not limited to the Heavenly Demon. Naturally, like the Orthodox Sect, the Demonic Cult also possessed tens of thousands of troops.
Most people assud the Heavenly Demon to be the most dangerous figure in the Demonic Cult.
That was reasonable. The Heavenly Demon’s martial prowess had reached near-divine levels.
But the Heavenly Demon was still human. Humans tire, and prolonged combat inevitably exposes their limits.
The truly terrifying figure was the Demon Brain, who could match the Heavenly Demon’s movents while simultaneously countering the combined forces of the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.
If the Heavenly Demon was the strongest in the world, the Demon Brain was the cleverest.
Demon Brain could likely sweep Kunlun aside without even needing the Heavenly Demon’s aid.
‘Indeed… when the Murim Alliance was corrupt, they never properly confronted the Demonic Cult…’
At that ti, the internal strife needed containnt, so the Orthodox Sect had no reason to act first unless the Demonic Cult moved directly.
It made sense, then, that one would not know the true fear of the Demonic Cult.
As they ran toward their destination in silence, Youngho sensed sothing peculiar.
“Hmm?”
He suddenly stopped, and Heo Do turned to ask,
“Why?”
“I sense a strange aura.”
“What kind of aura?”
“Do you not feel it?”
“So what kind of aura?”
It was strange. The aura was so vast that even Heo Do could notice it easily.
And yet he claid not to feel it?
Curious, Youngho began walking slowly toward the source of the aura.
As Heo Do reached to place his hand on Youngho’s shoulder to stop him,
“…!”
Youngho vanished. As if he had never existed, his presence was erased entirely.
Heo Do stared blankly at the spot where Youngho had been.
Truly, Youngho was a maddeningly formidable martial artist.
Naturally, his lightness skill cultivation had not been neglected, leaving no trace where he had walked.
Frustrated, Heo Do began investigating the spot where Youngho had disappeared.
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