episode_0488

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After a noisy morning and breakfast. Cho Yong-sang showed his power towards Ho Cheon-an.

“I ate well. Elderly.”

“I’m glad I got hit in the mouth.”

A meal would also have been served. In a slightly unfriendly atmosphere, Ho Cheon-an asked Cho Yong-sang about the purpose of his visit.

“Can I ask why the Murim lord, who has failed in all his affairs, came to visit this old man?”

“Um.”

Jo Yong-sang looked at Ho Cheon-an.

Looking at the real thing, I realized why Seo Yi-ryeong did not mention Ho Cheon-an in his letter.

I can not know.

I couldn’t see it clearly.

A person who owns spirits capable of ruling the world, but who personally serves food to uninvited guests with impure intentions.

Not only the state of martial arts, but also his nature and true intentions. He was just using an old and flimsy black lip, but I couldn’t tell what was going on.

However, there was no time to understand Ho Cheon-an’s temperament anymore.

This was because the situation in the world was changing rapidly.

“Elderly. How much do you know about the current situation in the world?”

“ While clearing out the remnants of the Blood Cult these days, I learned quite a bit about the remnants of the Blood Cult, but since I have been in seclusion for a long time, I cannot say that I am well-versed in the world’s situation.”

“Then it will be a bit of a long story.”

Jo Yong-sang cleared his throat and opened his mouth again.

“The imperial government suddenly suppressed the martial arts world, and the situation in the martial arts world changed drastically.”

Due to the current imperial family’s intervention in the martial arts world, numerous changes occurred in the martial arts world. All the literary factions in Yunnan disappeared, and the power of not only the four factions but also the famous political factions was greatly reduced due to the pressure of the imperial family.

“The changes that have occurred due to the intervention of the imperial family are indescribable…but the biggest point is that the masters of Hyeongyeong have disappeared from the martial arts world.”

As large-scale suppression of the martial arts took place, who became the imperial kingdom’s top priority targets?

They were the masters of the police department.

Due to the persistent imperial pressure pouring in from all directions, the choices of the police officers were largely divided into two. He could either officially announce his retirement from the martial arts world and choose to live in seclusion, or he could run away to a new country where the influence of the empire could not reach.

However, not all Hyeongyeong experts behaved as above.

“Amgyeongtoe Gumoseol was not like that.”

“Um.”

The theory of Amgyeongtoe Gumo, who was an ally of the blood religion.

After the assassination of Hyeoljon, Gu Mo-seol occupied the island instead of fleeing to the outside world to avoid pressure from the imperial kingdom.

“Heukrimbang, which was originally its own faction. And it may have been possible because the power of the blood religion collapsed and the scattered blood people and miscellaneous warriors who gathered around the blood religion as a central point were united.”

After finishing explaining the current situation, Cho Yong-sang cleared his throat, took a breath, and got to the point.

“The clans of blood religion that have recently spread all over the world are such Black Forests. To be exact, they are flocking to the Black Forest Islands.”

“Are you saying that people with spiritual objects move?”

“They are also agitated, but no specific movements have been identified yet. Those who move are those who wander around the world leading blood monsters and creating chaos.”

“Um.”

“How many times have you met a group of blood cults that deal with blood clots? Except for Namcheonhyeolgyo.”

Ho Cheon-an stroked his beard and looked back on his journey so far. The purpose of the journey is not to collect spiritual creatures, but to restore peace to the martial arts world. The remnants of the Blood Cult that had blood clots were also dealt with when encountered, but while collecting the seven spiritual creatures, the remnants of the Blood Cult that only had blood clots encountered were two groups at most.

“Hmm…I don’t think we’ve met each other that much.”

“In fact, it is natural if the elder moved to target the remnants of the blood religion.”

Blood people who wield spiritual powers were originally considered to be of high rank in blood religion.

On the other hand, what about the blood people who commit blood violence?

Compared to those who used spirit creatures, there were many cases where their abilities and blood arts were lacking. Also, unlike spirit creatures that are basically highly intelligent and difficult to take control of, if you have mastered the clot technique, you can easily take control of the clot.

Since it was not that difficult to hand over control, if the blood person with the blood clot surrendered to another force, control of the blood clot would be taken away and they would often be defeated.

Therefore, blood people with blood clots wandered the world, thoroughly avoiding the remnants of blood religion with spiritual entities.

Even if you are a wanderer, you will have a lot of power to enjoy as you have a monster that can easily deal with a Hwagyeong expert.

However, the remnants of that blood religion gave up their authority and gathered in the Black Forest Islands.

“Is it because of me that the remnants are gathering in the Black Forest Islands?”

Jo Yong-sang was silent at Ho Cheon-an’s words, but Ho Cheon-an accepted those words as positive.

“It is true that I am hostile to the Blood Cult, and I can understand that the remnants of the Blood Cult feel threatened. But what is the reason why you do not hesitate to take the long way to avoid me? For those who are already wandering, it would be normal for them to think that if I show up, they can just run away.”

“Meng believes there are two main reasons. One is probably because the rumor that the elder himself destroyed the Namcheonhyeolgyo was widely spread. Since the area where the clot could be formed was shattered, it was probably accepted as an expression of the elderly man’s intention that the clot was not necessary.”

Since the spiritual creatures were collected and the blood clots were put to rest, there was ample room for the remnants leading the blood clots to think that way.

“Second is that the theory of Gumo in the Black Forest Islands is attracting remnants with bloodshed by promising exceptional treatment. The Black Forest Archipelago, which was once an ally of a blood religion, had many warriors, had a natural environment as an island, and was home to an expert in the local police, would have been quite an attractive option for the remnants who had become anxious about their situation.”

“I guess so.”

Ho Tian-an nodded and thought.

Seogong reaped in memory of Hyeok Kirin. I took care of the spirits one by one according to the emotions I felt while reaping such efforts, and the situation ended up like this.

Squeak! Snap!

Kang! Caiang!

Hocheonan looked at Miho, who was clinging to Miho’s tail and Miho, who was trembling and spinning in place to catch him. Seokwoong turned his head as if he was noisy, and Mukgeum just watched him quietly.

Looking at that scene, Ho Cheon-an recalled the image of Seogong barely breathing in the basement of Namcheonhyeolgyo. Although it was not as serious as Seo-gong, Seok-woong, Muk-geum, and Mi-ho all showed nervous and ferocious appearances.

“Is it to ask for help with the matter of the Black Forest Islands, where the lord came to visit me?”

“To put it bluntly, yes.”

“Lord.”

Seo Yi-ryeong raised a voice of criticism, but Cho Yong-sang persevered and continued speaking.

Cho Yong-sang also knows that his request is shameless.

But I couldn’t just sit there like this.

Because the safety of the world was literally at stake.

“Also, it was Gumo’s theory that he was trying to control the world by joining hands with the blood religion. There is no one who does not know that there is ambition inside. Blood clots are gathering in the arms of such a person. If Gu Mo-seol gains enough power, he will try to rule the world.”

“Murim is still groaning at the marks left by Hyeolgyo. But what will happen if the Black Forest and the Blood Monsters aim to conquer the central plains again? The Empire will push them to become traitors, and the Murim Alliance lacks the power to stop the Black Forest, so a difficult situation will unfold once again.”

It was a midfielder that had already gone through difficult times.

If turbulent times unfold once again in the central region…

That will be the end.

That is why Jo Yong-sang bowed his head to Ho Cheon-an.

“For the well-being of the world, I ask you this. Elderly.”

Ho Cheon-an was looking at Jo Yong-sang like that.

“I understand.”

I mouthed my consent.

*** ***

Hocheonan and spirits. And the destination of Seo Yi-ryeong and Cho Yong-sang and Nam Gung-bin was Shandong, where the Black Forest Islands are located.

“Key! The food really tastes amazing!”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

“Still, since I was the descendant of a famous family, I was proud of gourmet food, but after meeting the old man, I realized that what I thought was gourmet was really nothing!”

…That bastard thinks he’s on a food trip.

Jo Yong-sang looked at Namgung-bin with a disapproving face. How could such an innocent guy come out of the Namgung family, famous for the spirit of a king?

Jo Yong-sang blamed his past self for deciding to hire someone without even going through an interview when he heard that he was a late member of the Namgung family.

Cho Yong-sang clicks his tongue as he sees Nam Goong-bin constantly moving his mouth, not even knowing that there is seasoning on his chin.

And Seo Yi-ryeong looked at Jo Yong-sang and sighed.

Cho Yong-sang, who ate a large portion of maekchae-guyuk, also had his lips shiny with oil.

“Since you treated me to a delicious meal, I will do the dishes!”

“Hehe. Then I will ask you a favor.”

“Yes! Please guess right!”

Namgoongbin disappeared to the water’s edge to wash dishes, and Hocheonan also left to take care of the spirits.

Cho Yong-sang, who belatedly cleaned up his shiny mouth, lowered his voice.

“Lee-ryeong. There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“Tomorrow morning will probably be white meat.”

“That’s really delicious…no, that’s not what I want to ask.”

Jo Yong-sang looked toward the spirit. There are seven strongholds of the blood religion that Ho Cheon-an destroyed. Since these were all places where spirit creatures were located, there should have been a total of seven spirit creatures led by Ho Cheon-an…

Seogong. Seokwoong. Silence. Miho.

In total, only four spirit creatures were visible.

“Where are the rest of the spirits? Are you following me from somewhere I can’t see?”

Seo Yi-ryeong showed a complicated expression in response to Jo Yong-sang’s question and opened her mouth.

“I became independent.”

“…What does it mean?”

Jo Yong-sang did not fully understand Seo Yi-ryeong’s words.

“It’s literally like that. It means returning to nature.”

“Back to nature…? Are you saying you released a spirit creature?”

Jo Yong-sang’s eyes shook violently at Seo Yi-ryeong’s nod. You just let go of a spirit object with greater value than a huge sect?

“It was a wolf spirit named Cheongrang and a spider spirit named Heukyo. Well, I don’t know about heukyo. Perhaps because they are insects, the concept of them acting together seems unlikely. Although he was intelligent and easily followed orders from his elders, he seemed reluctant to travel.”

“So you let me go? Spiritual things?”

“Rather than letting me go, I gave it a home. Is it really exquisite or strange? It was as if the space had been created for black yolk to build a nest and live. There, he probably will live peacefully as he wishes.”

Jo Yong-sang was astonished.

However, Seo Yi-ryeong’s words were not over.

“Cheongrang was a wolf from heaven and wanted to lead a pack. An attempt was made to form a pack with ordinary wolves, but no wolf, including Seogong, could stick close to the elder who was swarming with spirit creatures. The old man turned his way into a forest. There was another wolf spirit leading the pack there.”

“…So now that spirit creature called Cheongrang has formed a pack with that wolf and has become independent?”

“Yes. It was truly mysterious”

No, now…isn’t the problem about being mysterious?

“This is a big deal.”

Jo Yong-sang’s face hardened.

The owner of the Black Forest Islands. Gu Mo-seol had not hidden his ambition to conquer the world since before.

There were many opponents that Gu Mo-seol had to deal with in order to take over the world, but it was clear that one of them was a remnant of a blood cult that possessed spiritual objects.

So, Gumo Seol must have created a Jinbeopdae.

“In addition to the blood clots, there is also the Black Forest Islands’ Jinbeopdae… It is unclear whether the power of the Murim Alliance and the power of the seven spirits can handle it all, and the number of spirits has decreased…”

It was when Cho Yong-sang, who had pictured the battle with the Black Forest Islands in his mind, sighed.

“…I don’t know.”

Jo Yong-sang raised his head at Seo Yi-ryeong’s unexpected words.

“I don’t know if this is a good job.”

burdock! Whoa!

Kang! Caiang!

Seo Yi-ryeong looked at the spirits that were with Ho Cheon-an. Seo-gong is clinging to Ho Cheon-an’s back, and Mi-ho is running wild and stepping on Seok-woong. And Seok-woong is getting irritated by Mi-ho’s fuss. As expected, Mukgeum is looking at those spirits from a step away.

“The elder is hoping for peace for spirits. At least he made sure that they would no longer have blood on their hands because of humans. I realized this while looking at it from the side. Those spirit creatures will not harm people or cause chaos in the world as long as no one pushes them back.”

“Lee Ryeong.”

“A blood religion that used spiritual creatures to conquer the world. And even though…I am in a position where I have to use spirit creatures for the sake of the world’s well-being…did I really make the right choice?”

Jo Yong-sang could not answer.

“I don’t know how to face the approaching spirits.”

That too.

Jo Yong-sang could not answer.