Chapter 112: The Night Before the Murim Excursion (4)

After a long explanation, Sima Bai crossed his hands into his sleeves and spoke calmly.

“Hmm. So, the reason our lord came to this humble place was to find a rightful companion.”

“Yeah. I should have mentioned it earlier.”

I should’ve had the chance to say something.

“A rightful companion, you say.”

Sima Bai was speechless for a moment.

‘It must have been quite a shock for the old man.’

He had always pushed for world domination. However, his reaction was unexpected.

“It’s certainly an important matter.”

“…Are you really understanding?”

This can’t be so straightforward.

But surprisingly, he gave a logical response.

“I was already worried because there were no heirs yet.”

“Really?”

This was unexpected.

“At your age, you should have ten children by now.”

“…How old do you think I am?”

If it weren’t for the fabricated age, I’d be old enough to be thrown out of an inn.

“Well, fine. Finding a companion is more important than the Murim Alliance Leader.”

“Hey, are you listening to me?”

Sima Bai seemed lost in his own world.

“If our lord sets his mind to it, taking the Alliance Leader’s head is easy.”

“On the other hand, relationships between men and women need the right timing.”

“Having many heirs and then planning for world domination isn’t a bad idea.”

It was a relief.

‘Honestly, I thought he’d tell me to stay away from women before world domination.’

He was someone who had taken care of him diligently since childhood.

‘I’m really relieved.’

I honestly wanted his approval.

“But.”

Just as he was feeling relieved, Sima Bai added a condition.

“We need to confirm if she is suitable to be our lord’s companion…”

“Sima Bai.”

Cho Un-hwi growled in a low voice.

“If you think you can judge my woman, you’d better give up.”

It’s fine to give an opinion.

But only up to that point.

“Judging my companion is solely my responsibility.”

No overstepping interference allowed.

Maybe feeling the resolve in his voice, Sima Bai immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry. That was a grave mistake on my part.”

He then knelt without hesitation and banged his forehead on the floor.

“Please, my lord, forgive my transgression.”

“…You’re forgiven. But be careful from now on.”

“Haha. Thank you for your magnanimity.”

Sima Bai, with a reddened forehead, stood up.

“With our lord’s firm resolve, this old and useless man will have to roll up his sleeves.”

“Um… that’s a bit…”

Honestly, Sima Yul and Danya are enough. No, they might even be too much.

‘I don’t need someone as sly as Sima Bai around.’

He was about to politely refuse when Sima Bai, quick to read the situation, asked directly.

“You don’t think this old man is necessary, do you?”

“Well, not exactly necessary.”

“Our lord is overlooking one thing.”

Overlooking?

When he tilted his head, Sima Bai smiled slyly and answered.

“Is there anyone here besides me who has been married?”

“!!!”

His gaze slowly turned.

“I, I just didn’t get married because I wanted to join our lord’s great cause! It’s not that I couldn’t!”

One lonely middle-aged man making a lame excuse.

“I, I’m going to be with my iron staff for life! It’s my partner!”

One lonely man pointing to his black bandages as his partner.

*Creaaak.*

His gaze returned to Sima Bai.

“Haha. Not one of them has even held a woman’s wrist, let alone married. Are you sure about this?”

Experience can be quite important.

His whispered words made Cho Un-hwi’s resolve waver.

“My lord! No!”

“Sima Bai! That’s too much!”

Their desperate voices echoed, but…

‘It’s a problem even if I find her.’

If she doesn’t fall for me at first sight, I won’t know how to get close.

As his mind wavered, another temptation approached.

“Having this old man by your side will be quite helpful.”

“Unlike my son tied to the academy or Danya wandering outside, I can freely assist our lord.”

“Wouldn’t you like to benefit from the wisdom of a mysterious master recognized by the Murim Alliance?”

“Oh, and I can also avoid the prying eyes of that meddlesome Beggars’ Sect elder.”

With those words, Cho Un-hwi closed his eyes tightly.

And then he made his decision.

“Please take care of me, Sima Bai.”

It was the moment he accepted another ally.

***

“Haha.”

Seeing the dejected Sima Yul and Danya, Sima Bai laughed victoriously and changed the subject.

“Now that it’s come to this, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Yeah. Go ahead.”

“I’ve already told you how I came here, right?”

“Yeah.”

He had been acting as the “Lone Flying Swordsman, Wang Woo,” to lure the Heavenly Destruction Society, then came here at Chui Geol-gae’s suggestion.

‘I seized the opportunity to come closer.’

Nodding, Sima Bai continued.

“It seems the Murim Alliance is alarmed by the power of the Heavenly Destruction Society.”

Of course.

If they remain passive after being attacked like this, their reputation would be in shambles.

“So, they plan to use the Blood Tear Stone as bait to lure the Heavenly Destruction Society.”

“Not a bad plan.”

When luring a hidden enemy, it’s basic to use an enticing bait.

“But there’s one thing that worries me.”

In a lowered voice, Sima Bai continued.

“On the way here, I encountered some strange individuals.”

“Strange individuals?”

“They called themselves followers of the ‘Eight Heavenly Apostles.’”

“The ones you mentioned before, my lord.”

“It was my first time seeing them, but they were indeed remarkable.”

Sima Bai’s eyes gleamed with madness.

“They all practiced extreme yang demonic energy.”

“Extreme yang demonic energy, which is highly difficult to achieve and requires a special constitution.”

“Not just one or two, but dozens of them. It defies common sense.”

“Especially when those who practiced the famous Sun God Technique appeared.”

“Honestly, if I had been alone, I might have struggled.”

Hearing this, Danya was shocked.

“Sima Bai struggled?”

Considering they knew each other’s skills well, it must have been surprising.

Cho Un-hwi, listening, asked Danya.

“Danya. Did you notice anything strange with the Hao Clan?”

“Yeah. You know, we clashed several times in the desert. They didn’t seem different from before.”

Then the reason is simple.

“It seems the real deal is finally moving.”

Having lost the Blood Tear Stone, they couldn’t remain idle.

Dokgo Yul, listening, asked with a burning gaze.

“…My lord, are the ‘Apostles’…”

It’s only natural he’d be curious since I mentioned them before.

‘Tsk. I wanted to keep it a secret.’

It seemed I couldn’t avoid it any longer.

If the Murim Alliance suffers a major defeat?

‘The peaceful life at Shinmu Academy will end.’

In the worst case, they might even draft the students for reinforcements.

In my previous life, my fiancée was sent to the battlefield for similar reasons.

In the end, Cho Un-hwi had to reveal what he knew.

“The Eight Heavenly Apostles.”

“The Eight Heavenly Apostles?”

“They are the eight heavens that make up the Heavenly Destruction Society.”

“Are they different from the ones we’ve faced so far?”

“Yes, very different.”

“They are the real power of the Heavenly Destruction Society. They were trained for world domination. They’re on a different level from those who infiltrated sects to plot schemes.”

The followers of the Eight Heavenly Apostles have a distinctive feature.

“They can manipulate different types of energy.”

Different types of energy.

Not just projecting internal energy into weapons to create sword or blade energy.

“They can create flames and wind just by manipulating energy.”

“That’s incredible. Manipulating different types of energy is extremely rare.”

“Exactly. It requires a special constitution.”

The closest example is the Light of the Flame, Ma Gil-sang.

He reached the pinnacle of martial arts by mastering the Flame Sword Technique.

Despite not being from the Nine Sects or the Ten Great Clans, he became one of the Ten Great Swordsmen, thanks to his unique constitution.

The Yang Body.

The most suitable constitution for mastering extreme yang martial arts.

“Manipulating different types of energy is like a dream. It’s more powerful than regular sword energy.”

Think about it.

It’s already difficult to face sharp sword energy, but what if your hair burns and your flesh cooks just by approaching?

Even against a master of the same level, manipulating different types of energy makes it extremely challenging.

That’s the advantage of different types of energy.

“How can the Apostles create such individuals?”

“I don’t know for sure. It might be related to human sacrifice.”

“…I see.”

As Dokgo Yul muttered, Cho Un-hwi spoke.

“Warn Chui Geol-gae if you get the chance. Tell him not to underestimate them.”

“I’m not sure if he’ll believe me. Even telling the truth could be problematic.”

A constitution capable of manipulating different types of energy is a rare gift from heaven.

A gift given to a select few at birth.

But if such a constitution could be artificially created?

“There will be those who defect for the martial arts.”

“Good point.”

Sima Bai was right.

In my previous life, many masters from the righteous factions joined the Heavenly Destruction Society for this reason.

The miraculous power that could grant extraordinary talent to even third-rate warriors.

“Of course, there’s no need to worry about mediocre people mastering it.”

But if it’s someone at the level of an Apostle, it’s different.

“Avoid them if you can. Fight only if you must.”

Cho Un-hwi warned sternly.

“If an Apostle gets the Blood Tear Stone, run immediately. No exceptions.”

This is an order.

Feeling humiliated by the stern warning, Danya grumbled.

“My lord, tell me straight. What exactly is the Blood Tear Stone?”

“The Blood Tear Stone, or Reincarnation Stone, is a cursed object made from the resentment and poison of the dead.”

In my previous life, it was called the “Seed of Calamity.”

“It’s true that it can summon the source of all evil.”

So absolutely.

“If an Apostle gets the ‘Red Stone,’ don’t go near it.”

In the silence, Cho Un-hwi’s low, ominous voice echoed through the abandoned building.