Chapter v8c9

“What is the meaning of this?”

At that moment, Geomma Choyeol grabbed the shoulder of Gu Cheon Hak, who had returned, and asked sternly in a cold tone. At that time, his gaze was piercingly fixed on Gu Cheon Hak.

However, Gu Cheon Hak firmly shut his mouth, betraying his expectations in a unsatisfying manner.

“Can’t you hear me? What is the meaning of this?”

Choyeol shook his shoulder again.

But Gu Cheon Hak, while receiving his gaze head on, remained silent as if his tongue had turned to a fossil.

“What is the meaning of this? Answer me! Gu Cheon Hak of the Silent Fury!”

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Choyeol burst out shouting in anger. Such a frustrating feeling was unfamiliar, as it was the first time he had ever felt it.

No matter how much he was urged, Gu Cheon Hak did not open his mouth. He did not even open his mouth to his closest friend, who was almost like a brother to him. The only time his mouth had opened was in front of the furious Black Heaven Sect Leader, Gal Jeung Cheon.

“I apologize.”

With those words, Gu Cheon Hak never opened his mouth again. His entire body was clearly ready to embrace death.

Gal Jeung Cheon, despite trembling with intense anger, could not bring himself to order his death. This was because Gu Cheon Hak was also one of the top ten experts of the Black Heaven Sect.

‘Hoo…….’

Remembering that bleak moment, Choyeol quietly sighed to himself. The sight of his close friend’s small looking back came to mind, leaving a bitter feeling. His heart became heavy again.

However, he could not afford to harbor such sorrowful feelings forever. There was something he had to do now. There could be no concessions.

“Our Black Heaven Sect’s demand is a legitimate request following the legal procedures based on the Righteous and Evil Agreement made a hundred years ago. Our sect leader has ordered us to bring back a definite answer. This matter cannot be simply overlooked or dismissed lightly, according to our sect leader’s thoughts!”

‘Hoo!’

This time, it was Ma Jin ga who let out a deep sigh filled with worry.

It was rather this side that felt wronged. Being accused of a crime they did not commit and subjected to thorough investigation and interrogation was far from pleasant. Despite their heated denials, the other side kept using circumstantial evidence to label them as the culprits.

They were like the proverbial melon field where one does not tie their shoelaces, and under the willow tree where one does not adjust their hat strap. However, they lacked decisive evidence to refute the crime.

‘Too big a figure has died!’

A big figure had died, not in terms of power, but in a symbolic sense. If it had been just about anyone, they could have taken a strong stance, but it had to be Gal Hyobong, the grandson of the martial arts master Gal Jeung hyeok and the eldest son of the Black Heaven Sect Leader Gal Jeung Cheon………… It was extremely difficult to expect rationality from a parent who had lost their child. Even if he was the absolute ruler of the underworld, the situation was the same.

The Iron Calvary of Death!, which had been put forward as a representative of blood, had been utterly defeated, yet the other side showed no signs of backing down. Despite the defeat of their representative, they were now stubbornly insisting on sending a special investigation officer………….

He wanted to refuse, but it was regrettable that the situation did not allow for it.

“How much more time is needed for this storm to subside?”

As Ma Jin ga could not know the demands of time, it was only frustrating. Ma Jin ga finally made up his mind.

“Tell them I understand!”

Although it was the answer that had been determined from the beginning, Ma Jin ga’s heart ached as he spoke.

“Yes! I will make sure to convey it just so.”

The quietly enraged Geomma left the place without even a diplomatic greeting, in other words, without even moistening his lips, leaving only a brusque farewell. Some elders were furious at his rudeness, saying, ‘We must formally protest,’ but Ma Jin ga was too preoccupied with the investigation officer to pay attention to such protests.

‘What to do with this matter now…………?’

It was a matter far from being quietly settled. Moreover, it was not something that could end quietly. To raise their voice against the Black Heaven Sect, they had no choice but to prove their innocence. Only then could they demand an investigation into the truth behind the fallen members of the Shadow Eagle Brigade. The Shadow Eagle Brigade members were believed to be a secret assassination squad dispatched to assassinate Gal Hyobong, and they had inflicted significant damage on the forces under the Twin Killers of Heaven and Earth and had rushed to save Gal Hyobong, and perished on their own accord………… Before clearing the suspicion of the other side, protesting was nearly impossible. Above all, the lack of evidence was infuriating.

The safety of the investigator was also a concern. If something were to happen to the investigator dispatched this time, all responsibility would inevitably fall on the Cheonmu Martial Arts School.

‘Whom to choose……?’

A reliable guard who was flawless, diligent, and strong in martial arts was needed. Several profiles passed through his mind.

“It’s not a good feeling!”

With a heavy heart and a sunken mood, Choyeol left Cheonmu Hall , the daily workplace of the Cheonmu Academy owner. The back of his head was noisy, and his ears itched, indicating that there were various opinions about what he had said. It was clear that there would be no good in listening to the conversations going on. Despite having completed his mission safely, his face did not look bright.

The bitterly cold blue sky and the stinging sunlight made him frown. An inexplicable anger boiled in his chest. Was it because this place felt like a den of murderers?

“Hyobong… That child died like that…”

He was a child whose growth he had watched from the beginning to the end since he was young. How proud he had been of that child’s rapid progress!

When Hyo bong’s twin swords first broke through his sword net and succeeded in striking, Geomma genuinely rejoiced in his achievement. He had looked forward to the day when Hyo bong would surpass him with a willing heart. But… But now, Hyo bong was gone.

“Once I find the culprit, whoever it is, they will be punished severely! I swear on my name, Geomma Choyeol!”

He had enough guts not to care even if the entire world of righteous martial artists became his enemy. If Cheonmu Academy was involved, he was ready to confront them with all his might. The existence that accounted for more than half the fun of his life had disappeared. The child he cherished and loved like a son had died in vain.

Even now, he was barely suppressing the surging killing intent. It was a situation that required tremendous patience on his part.

It was then.

“Thud!”

Geomma’s body staggered backward for a moment. His thick and sharply extended sword tip twitched. His diagonal cross scar wriggled. Some massive object had flown in and hit his body hard.

“How rude!”

Choyeol exploded in anger.

“Ah?! Oh no! I’m sorry.”

The one who had recklessly thrown himself at him was still a young boy. The boy’s eyes were hidden by his long bangs. However, from the boy’s tone, it was clear that he was not sorry at all. That boy was none other than Bi Ryu yeon.

‘Wait… what?’

Choyeol suddenly realized something and was so shocked that his heart nearly leaped out of his throat. Then he burst out in anger, releasing his killing intent without reservation, and then felt incredulous again.

‘How… How did he get so close?’

He was an entity that had approached him unnoticed, despite his pride in being among the ranks of the top experts. No matter how distracted he was, it should have been impossible. It was absolutely impossible and should not have happened that he, a member of the Black Heaven’s Ten Pillars, allowed an intrusion within his own space of life and death. It was unthinkable to give up the front, not even the back, to a mere child in his dreams.

‘Should I cut him down?’

His sorrow writhed with killing intent and anger. It was also anger and reproach towards himself. How dare someone bump into a swordsman’s shoulder, not just slightly, but hard enough to shake his body… Such careless negligence was inexcusable, even if it resulted in beheading. In the underworld, bumping into someone’s body could be interpreted as an intention to attack, so even a slight bump could lead to a duel to the death.

There is a famous poem about this matter, ‘Even brushing past a sleeve is a connection… What then is a shoulder bump, that it decides life and death!’ It is a famous and unparalleled song that mourns the souls of the many who have died from shoulder bumps, a song with a very sweet melody. A sudden contact with the shoulder, an abrupt touch with the opponent, directly leads to one’s death, so every martial artist must be cautious.

At least that was the law of the underworld. Naturally, it was distinctly different from the way of the righteous martial artists, where sometimes even a simple apology could suffice.

Geomma could not decide in an instant whether to cut down this wretched child or leave him be. If it were an ordinary time, there would be no room for discussion, but he was here at Cheonmu Academy with the status of an envoy. Creating unnecessary conflict was not the duty of an envoy. It was not permissible to shed blood here. That was what Choyeol regretted.

‘But!’

A fierce light flashed in Geomma Choyeol’s eyes. Even though he had allowed the front, he could not just leave it be.

‘A wound or two should be no problem.’

Click!

His left thumb slightly pushed up the sword from its sheath.

Geomma himself, regardless of who it was, absolutely did not care. He was determined to walk the path he had chosen, to declare his will to the heavens and proceed with his actions, and he had absolutely no intention, not even half a speck of dust or a chick’s pee worth of desire, to forgive anyone who interfered with that, the very embodiment of rudeness, even if life and death were reversed and the world was turned upside down once again, realizing the groundless fears.

Therefore, he felt a strong need to take action to assert his stance, and as part of the simplest yet effective method, he decided to exercise martial violence.

Clang!

With the release of a silver flash, Geomma’s sword was drawn from its sheath.

Whoosh!

A terrifying sound of cutting through the air!

And a streak of light!

The hair and clothes of the person following Bi Ryu yeon fluttered mercilessly.

The sword wind swept through all directions, making the grass tremble as if being plucked from the earth. A cloud of dust rose in a long arc, and… a few strands of hair fluttered in midair.

‘What… what is this?’

He had resolved to engrave a lesson with a half inch deep cut across the forehead. Blood should have formed droplets in midair from the severed capillaries. That would have been normal.

The power was such that it could blow back the hair of someone standing more than three yards away. As for Bi Ryu yeon, who was right next to him, it goes without saying. It was lucky he didn’t die. That would have been normal.

‘A failure! For me, of all people, to fail…’

Today, Choyeol was troubled by the number of times he had been shocked. His sword had not carried out his original intent. His strike had been in vain. The sword of Geomma, known as the Sword Demon, had made a fool of itself. A clear and beautiful sound, fatal to his reputation, echoed throughout the world.

Swoosh!

The situation where blood vessels should have been decorating the air did not happen. Instead, only three strands of hair fluttered leisurely in the empty air.

Only then did the cloud of dust that had risen in midair slowly begin to settle to the ground. Behind Bi Ryu yeon, a clean semi circular space of three meters length was left untouched. It was the aftermath of Geomma’s sword wind.

‘What, what is that? Those… those eyes?’

Choyeol’s eyes widened as he looked directly into Bi Ryu yeon’s eyes. He was startled. Such agitation was unprecedented for him, who always maintained his composure, except for the recent death of Gal Hyobong, whom he cherished like his own child.

‘Ah! This is unexpected! The master said I should never show this to anyone..’

Bi Ryu yeon grumbled. He regretted the three strands of hair that had been cut off.

‘That darn… Damn it!’

Choyeol seemed quite agitated. He was currently unable to speak properly. It was as if someone was holding his tongue, though that was not the case.

“You! Do you call this a skill of the righteous path?! What kind of eyes are those?”

Geomma was so angry that he could burst a vein in his neck. He couldn’t shake the feeling that today was going to be more disastrous than usual. His usual self, known for being cold and ruthless, seemed to have fled the world. A strange feeling, as if he was not himself!

If it were Bi Ryu yeon, he wouldn’t just stand there and take it.

“Tch! Don’t blame others for what you’ve done. Why are there so many people who throw swords, knives, and spears at me without warning or asking… Sigh! Thinking about it, my life has been quite rough! Truly, the future is too gloomy for someone as pure, honest, and delicate as me.”

Bi Ryu yeon grumbled, not caring about Geomma Choyeol’s state, as he pushed his hair, which had been blown back by the wind pressure, back to the front.

‘This… This guy! Using some strange sorcery…’

Once again, Choyeol ground his teeth. The killing intent that had been carved into his body had not been washed away by the wind and was still thickly present.

For Bi Ryu yeon, it was an unjust situation.

Click!

Once again, Geomma’s hand touched the sword handle.

This time, he was truly determined to cut. The compulsion to cut seemed to dominate his mind.

‘Gasp!’

However, Choyeol’s determination to cut Bi Ryu yeon could not continue. The moment another young man entered his field of vision, he forgot what he was about to do.

The face of Hyo ryong, who was facing Geomma Choyeol, also turned pale.

‘No, why is that child here?

It was entirely the wrong place for a person to be. It was no wonder he was surprised, as the child who should have been diligently training and studying at Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion appeared suddenly at Cheonmu Academy.

‘How can this be! I haven’t been informed of this situation!’

He thought that there might be a flow he didn’t know about within Dark Heaven Alliance and Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion. he was definitely not a child to be involved in such dangerous matters. His status in the underworld was too great for that.

‘What on earth is happening?’

Geomma was very confused.

Bow!

With a pale face as white as a sheet, Hyo ryong bowed politely. Choyeol, who had barely calmed himself, silently nodded in response. For a moment, the two shared an emotion. No words were needed. Hyo ryong was sincerely grateful to Choyeol, who was worried about him. He was the person who, like a master or an uncle, had followed him since he was young. And he still called him uncle.

Tap tap!

Geomma’s thick hand tapped on the shoulder of Hyo ryong, who was bowing his head. Hyo ryong could feel an inexplicable warmth seeping into his chest. It felt like tears were welling up in his eyes.

It seemed that it would take some time to compose himself.

‘What is your relationship with him?’

Choyeol asked Hyo ryong using telepathy. Hyo ryong immediately knew that the question was about his relationship with Bi Ryu yeon. He answered without hesitation.

‘He’s my friend.’

A glint appeared in Choyeol’s eyes. Then he turned his gaze to Bi Ryu yeon. Bi Ryu yeon was still standing there, grinning.

“You’re lucky!”

Geomma said, removing his hand from Hyo ryong’s shoulder.

“Well… Goodbye. I don’t know when we’ll meet again. Please take care of me then.”

Bi Ryu yeon waved his hand cheerfully.

“We’ll meet again… No! I look forward to that day.”

Geomma left those words behind and departed from Cheonmu Academy.