Ch.195Chapter 195 – Plans Are Just Like That

“Count Severio. I regret that I couldn’t do more for you, but I believe it’s best for your safety to return to the Western Continent as soon as possible, though my heart is not at ease sending you away.”

In front of the main hall of the Paseong Gold Family, I conversed with Gold Sun who had come to see me off.

It seemed he was genuinely disappointed that I was leaving his family.

Truthfully, I would have liked to stay here longer to enjoy myself… but circumstances are what they are.

After the sudden attack by the Heavenly Demon, the heads of the great families apparently held an emergency meeting out of genuine concern for my safety.

The conclusion of the meeting seemed to be that sending me back to the Western Continent as soon as possible would be the safest option.

So I had to hastily prepare to depart for the Red Palace governed by the Han Dongbaek Family, without even completing a week’s stay at the Paseong Gold Family.

“I understand your feelings, Family Head.”

“Haha. I’m truly glad you understand my heart.”

Gold Sun genuinely seemed to regret that I had to leave his family and return to the Western Continent.

“If you ever visit this place again, I hope you’ll come to our Paseong Gold Family’s main hall. Next time, I promise to treat you even more generously.”

“I understand. If I visit again, I’ll be sure to stop by the Paseong Gold Family.”

“Travel safely. Everyone, ensure the Count’s safe passage.”

“Yes, Family Head!”

The martial arts masters of the Paseong Gold Family responded in unison to their leader’s words.

They were all people who had accumulated at least one gapja of inner energy.

I recall one gapja being about 60 years, but I wonder what standard they use to measure a quantity like 1 gapja?

“There’s no specific standard for one gapja, they say. However, they all say that the moment you can externalize and shape the inner energy accumulated in your body is when you’ve achieved 1 gapja.”

When I asked Baek Yuwol, it wasn’t specific, but it seemed that from the moment one could materialize their inner energy, they were considered to have 1 gapja of inner energy.

Anyway, if one could produce inner energy in the form of a kind of strong force, it seemed comparable to the level of an Aura Expert from the Western Continent.

“We shall depart now!”

Even the coachman was a martial arts master with at least 1 gapja of inner energy, so everyone maintained proper etiquette and discipline.

With these highly disciplined warriors of the Paseong Gold Family, I finally set out on my journey back to the Western Continent.

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After Pathos’s carriage left the Paseong Gold Family.

There was someone secretly following them.

A woman with sky-blue hair and black eyes, Cheon Hyeryeong, was following Pathos’s carriage.

The reason she was following Pathos’s carriage was none other than a request from Regina, Pathos’s lover.

‘Please take care of him while he’s there.’

‘As the sister of this sovereign and the future husband of this sovereign, it is only natural that I protect my lord.’

Regina wanted her to watch over Pathos at least while he was staying in the Eastern Continent, as it was too difficult for Regina herself to travel back and forth between the Western and Eastern Continents.

They say the strong recognize the strong, don’t they?

Both Regina and Cheon Hyeryeong had reached levels that ordinary people couldn’t achieve even with ten thousand years of training, so either one of them alone would be more than sufficient to protect Pathos.

That’s why Cheon Hyeryeong was secretly following Pathos’s carriage using a silent movement technique called “Heavenly Demon Shadow Step.”

If something were to happen to Pathos or if a group with ill intentions approached, she would need to step in and handle the situation.

‘Hoho, this sovereign is the number one in the evil faction, the number one in all times, and the number one under heaven.’

For Cheon Hyeryeong, who had attained the position of the Heavenly Demon, acknowledged as the strongest warrior in the Eastern Continent, secretly following a carriage was nothing.

She could have easily moved ahead of the carriage if she wanted to, but since she didn’t know where they were headed, she was simply following them.

“Hmm?”

While following Pathos’s carriage for quite some time, something strange caught Cheon Hyeryeong’s energy sense.

It was an unsettling energy that was similar to the Heavenly Demon Art’s energy yet fundamentally different.

‘This energy… it’s similar to those who attacked me.’

Cheon Hyeryeong recognized this energy as belonging to the Demon Cult.

And the direction from which this energy was emanating was the Eight Million Scenic Peaks, a famous tourist attraction of the Paseong Gold Family known for its strange rock formations.

The Demon Cult’s energy emanating from the Eight Million Scenic Peaks, a place named for its magnificent view of eight million peaks.

The route that Pathos’s carriage was taking.

A hypothesis instantly formed in Cheon Hyeryeong’s mind.

‘I’m concerned that the Demon Cult or some such vile group might be hiding at the Eight Million Scenic Peaks, preparing an ambush.’

Cheon Hyeryeong’s greatest concern was Pathos’s safety.

In her thinking, Pathos would be the biggest obstacle to the Demon Cult.

After all, wasn’t it because he saved her that the Demon Cult’s forces, which were about to attack the Heavenly Demon Sect, were completely wiped out?

So it was highly likely that the Demon Cult harbored resentment toward Pathos for ruining their plans.

‘This world is one where grudges and debts are taken very seriously, and once someone bears a grudge, they pursue it until death.’

For Cheon Hyeryeong, the Demon Cult attacking Pathos wasn’t a hypothesis but a reality that could happen at any time.

“It seems I must erase the Eight Million Scenic Peaks completely.”

Although the Eight Million Scenic Peaks was famous for its beautiful natural scenery, to Cheon Hyeryeong who was in love, nothing was more precious than her lord’s life.

Deploying her lightness skill to its extreme, Cheon Hyeryeong instantly moved ahead of the carriage toward the location where she believed the Demon Cult forces were preparing an ambush.

“The wind seems quite strong today.”

“It’s fine if we’re a bit late, we can go slowly.”

“Understood, Count.”

Hearing the coachman’s comment about the strong wind, Pathos suggested they proceed slowly.

This area had rugged terrain, so from Pathos’s perspective, traveling safely was the priority.

Following Pathos’s words, his carriage and the entire entourage slowed their pace.

For them, the area around the Eight Million Scenic Peaks was their territory and home, so they undoubtedly knew the geography better than anyone.

Those who knew the geography well didn’t think much about slowing down for Pathos’s safety.

They simply thought the strong wind was normal.

In fact, they didn’t know it was the aftermath of Cheon Hyeryeong deploying her lightness skill to its extreme.

After moving ahead of Pathos’s carriage by deploying her lightness skill to its extreme, Cheon Hyeryeong climbed to the highest peak of the Eight Million Scenic Peaks to better sense the Demon Cult’s energy.

Standing on the highest peak, Cheon Hyeryeong closed her eyes and spread her energy sense in all directions.

Not a domineering energy, but a subtle and delicate energy of hers spread out in all directions.

Her energy, spreading about several dozen kilometers, located the position of the Demon Cult forces in the Eight Million Scenic Peaks.

“So that’s where they are.”

Cheon Hyeryeong’s eyes sharpened as she found the Demon Cult’s energy.

Pathos’s carriage would have to pass through the place where people with the Demon Cult’s energy were gathered.

Of course, there were other routes that would take a bit longer, but to reach the territory of the Han Dongbaek Family most quickly, they had to pass through that place.

The place where they were gathered was the Changcheon Peak, said to be the most beautiful in the Eight Million Scenic Peaks.

It was said to be the place with the most rugged terrain among the Eight Million Scenic Peaks, known for its strange rock formations.

Looking at the shape of the strange rocks, Cheon Hyeryeong thought:

‘The formation of these strange rocks is perfect for ambushing travelers on the road.’

She soon realized what the Demon Cult wanted and why they were waiting there.

“How dare they! To attempt to harm my lord!”

Cheon Hyeryeong clenched her fist toward the Changcheon Peak where the Demon Cult had gathered to set a trap for her lord.

“This sovereign will never allow those who try to harm what belongs to me to go unpunished!”

In the sky above.

On the earth below.

Only the Heavenly Demon.

Standing alone.

That is the Heavenly Demon, supreme in heaven and earth.

“This sovereign is the number one in the evil faction.”

Cheon Hyeryeong raised her fist to her chest.

“The number one under heaven.”

She pulled back her clenched right fist as if drawing a bowstring.

“The number one of all times.”

Her fist was filled with the inner power of the Heavenly Demon Art—

“And one who serves a single lord.”

The Heavenly Demon’s single punch that shakes heaven and earth, the secret technique of the Heavenly Demon Art.

Heavenly Demon Divine Fist!

As Cheon Hyeryeong’s fist swung toward the Changcheon Peak, with just one punch thrown from a great distance, all the strange rock formations of the Changcheon Peak and its surroundings were cleanly blown away as if stones caught in a storm.

After her punch was thrown, she confirmed that no trace of energy presumed to be from the Demon Cult remained there.

Anyone can make plans and put them into action, but they cannot stop a woman who is the number one in the evil faction, the number one under heaven, the number one of all times, and one who serves a single lord.

“Consider it a natural disaster.”

Cheon Hyeryeong smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the completely swept-away area of the Changcheon Peak.

“Oh my, it seems a battle between spiritual beasts has occurred somewhere. I’ll guide you through a safe route, even if it takes a bit longer.”

Thanks to her, Pathos would now take a safer route even if it took longer, thus doubly securing his safety, which was exactly what Cheon Hyeryeong wanted.