Chapter 21 : Chapter 21

Chapter 21. So That Was There (1)

Han Cheong-un's chosen operation was a diversion.

While Dang Jin caused a scene and attracted the Mount Hua Sect's attention, Han Cheong-un intended to secretly infiltrate the White Plum Pavilion.

‘He’ll do well, right? He’ll do well.’

On the way, I caught a glimpse of Mount Hua's first-class disciples running towards the scene, but it should be fine.

‘Our Vice Sect Leader has good resilience, so he’ll be fine.’

In the meantime, Han Cheong-un secretly moved to the White Plum Pavilion.

On the way, there were naturally Mount Hua's female swordsmen standing guard with a strict attitude.

However.......

Domain

This ability that made Han Cheong-un the world’s best master in the past.

In this moment, Han Cheong-un’s step transcends cognition.

That means.......

“What is that commotion?”

“Who knows? Whatever it is, we must keep our posts.”

“Senior Sister is right.”

It means he can perfectly deceive the eyes and ears of the female masters guarding the White Plum Pavilion.

‘Good.’

It is a bit unshapely that the thing he does with such a supernatural ability is secretly entering a women’s dormitory, though.

After that, Han Cheong-un freely used the ability of the Domain and secretly roamed the White Plum Pavilion.

Although in that process.......

“Junior Sister, have you seen my underwear?”

“I hung it over there.”

“Senior Sister, you should walk around wearing clothes, shouldn’t you?”

“What does it matter? It’s the White Plum Pavilion.”

He unintentionally witnessed scenes he shouldn’t have seen, though.

‘I am sorry. All of this is force majeure.’

Quite a few criminals claim this.

Anyway, Han Cheong-un moved without being caught.

However.......

“Mm?”

“Huh?”

Regrettably, the Domain cannot be maintained continuously.

If used appropriately at the necessary moment, it helps with infiltration, but it is not absolute.

A few masters sensed the presence of Han Cheong-un moving secretly.

And she did not hesitate at all.

She immediately drew her sword and.......

Boom!

Mount Hua's dazzling Plum Blossom Sword Qi exploded.

Then the young disciples spoke.

“Senior Sister?”

“What is happening?”

She sheathed her sword and said.

“An intruder. There is a bastard who intruded into the White Plum Pavilion.”

“In the White Plum Pavilion?”

“An intruder?”

In an instant, killing intent swirled in their eyes.

There was no one in the broken ceiling.

But if Senior Sister's words were true, it meant the intruder was still alive.

And that was the truth.

‘Oh dear, was I caught in the end?’

Han Cheong-un sighed inwardly.

He did dodge by unfolding the Spirit Realm One Step the moment the Plum Blossom Sword Qi flew in.

But since the opponent had entered a state of alert, it would be difficult to move easily from now on.

Above all.......

‘Honestly, it is my fault. Should I just go down and apologize?’

It is a waste to give up after coming this far, but since I’ve been detected once, it will be a matter of time before my stealth is blown.

Then wouldn't it be better to obediently apologize even now?

Since the opponents are righteous female warriors of the Orthodox Faction, surely they wouldn't be too harsh on someone who apologizes?

‘Good. Let’s go down.’

Just as Han Cheong-un decided that.

Thud!

A female warrior of Mount Hua struck the floor hard with her scabbard and shouted.

“I ask you all! To a male who infiltrated the men-prohibited area without permission?”

“Sanctions of death!”

“Sanctions of death!”

“To the dirty traitor who betrays her sisters and dates alone?”

“The iron mace of blood!”

“The iron mace of blood!”

“Catch him! I will not ask whether he is dead or alive!”

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

I’m in big trouble.

It is not an atmosphere where I can go down.

* * *

Mount Hua's female disciples all held swords, fully armed, and began searching for Han Cheong-un.

Bloodshot eyes and thrilling killing intent.

Han Cheong-un was certain.

‘If I get caught, I really die.’

It was a life where he fought risking death for the justice of the Jianghu.

But isn't dying like this really not right?

Han Cheong-un hid his body while suppressing his presence as much as possible.

However.......

“First floor, east area. No abnormalities.”

“We will search the first floor, west area.”

“Search thoroughly. Do not leave a single rat, no, not even an ant.”

“Yes!”

The encirclement is gradually narrowing.

The search by Mount Hua’s female disciples was pointlessly precise and meticulous.

‘Did this kind of thing happen often? Why are they so used to this?’

It is a perfect and meticulous search reminiscent of the Beggar's Gang’s Heaven and Earth Dragnet.

Han Cheong-un, who had almost no strength left to overuse the Domain, could only hide his presence in one place.

Truly a desperate moment.......

“This way.”

Someone grabbed Han Cheong-un.

In that instant, Han Cheong-un was startled.

Who is this person who accurately detected him while he was hiding with his presence perfectly suppressed?

When he turned his head, there was.......

“Baek.......”

“Come here. Hurry!”

Mount Hua Divine Maiden Baek Sua.

She, whom Han Cheong-un was anxiously looking for, appeared here.

* * *

“Senior Sister! Are you in...... Oh my? You were changing clothes?”

“What is it?”

Although the White Plum Pavilion is a place for communal living, the first-class disciples are granted private rooms.

And Baek Sua is also undeniably a first-class disciple of Mount Hua.

The second-class disciples who swarmed into her private room said.

“It seems there is an intruder in the White Plum Pavilion. We must immediately search the entire area.”

“There is no one in my room. Junior Sister.”

It is a lie.

Right now, under Baek Sua's bed, Han Cheong-un was hiding as if dead.

‘Good. For now, I can escape the crisis this way.’

So thought Han Cheong-un.

However.......

“Still, we must search.”

“Really?”

‘No, does that stiff woman not know seniority?’

If Senior Sister says no, she should obediently believe it.

How dare she disobey?

“It is the rule of the White Plum Pavilion. If a search order is issued, even the Sect Leader cannot refuse.”

Really? The White Plum Pavilion’s power is awesome.

“Even if I say there isn’t anyone?”

“About 130 years ago, after a disciple was caught secretly bringing in her lover, a rule was added that a search must be conducted even if the person refuses.”

“Ahhh....... I see.”

That was 130 years ago, wasn't it?

You still remember that? You petty women.

Men hate it if you are that meticulous.

So thought Han Cheong-un.

He broke out in a cold sweat all over his body.

In his current state lying face down under the bed, it is difficult to escape even if he unfolds the Domain.

One step to get up, another step to move.

At least two steps are needed, but will that work?

‘No. It’s impossible.’

A desperate crisis. However.......

“It can’t be helped. Then search.”

“Thank you for understan....... Huh?”

The face of the Mount Hua second-class disciple who was speaking suddenly became blurry.

And after a while.......

“There really is no one.”

“Right.”

“Thank you for your cooperation. Senior Sister.”

“Good work, Senior Sister.”

The second-class disciple left the room.

“Huuuu.......”

Baek Sua sighed, then staggered and leaned against the wall.

And.......

“Lady Baek, you?”

Han Cheong-un, who crept out from under the bed, looked at Baek Sua with an unbelieving expression.

He knows what he just saw.

It is a light hypnosis using the Dragon Eye.

He had seen Baek Sua use that during the Evil-Annihilating Squad days.

But the problem is.......

‘She obtained that ability around the latter half of the Second Orthodox-Unorthodox Great War. That means.......’

A hypothesis forms in his head.

And Baek Sua took action as if to perfectly prove that hypothesis.

Bringing one fist to her chest and bowing her waist, she said.......

“Baek Sua of the Evil-Annihilating Squad. I greet the Grand Master.”

That was the perfect proof, leaving nothing more to be said.

* * *

Han Cheong-un stared blankly at Baek Sua.

And after a while, he spoke with a trembling voice.

“Do you remember everything?”

Baek Sua nodded silently.

It is not that memories remain vaguely like Dang Jin.

She really remembered everything.

“Since when did you recover your memories?”

“Five months ago.”

Chronologically, it matches the time when Han Cheong-un regressed.

He was flustered. However.......

‘Is it rather a good thing?’

Doesn't this reduce the trouble of persuading Baek Sua?

For Han Cheong-un, who was hesitating on how to persuade her, it was a good thing.

However, unlike Dang Jin, if she remembers the whole truth, there is something he must say.

“Lady Baek, I.......”

“.......”

“I am sorry. In the end, I sacrificed all of you.”

“.......”

“Everything is due to my incompetence.”

He brought out the words from deep within his heart.

The Evil-Annihilating Squad led the war to victory and saved the Orthodox Murim.

But that is all.

As much as they stood at the forefront more than anyone in the Orthodox-Unorthodox Great War, more people were sacrificed than anyone else, and Han Cheong-un was the only one who survived the final battle.

It is still vivid when he closes his eyes.

The corpses of the members who fought bravely and died following his orders.......

Even in those days when he was dying day by day in the Murim Alliance's prison, he never forgot.

Having obtained the opportunity of regression, he thought he had buried it in a corner of his memory now.

He thought he just had to not repeat the same mistake since he got a chance.

But if there is a person sharing the same memory as him in front of his eyes, he could not help but apologize.

And Baek Sua.......

“Raise your head.”

“Lady Baek, I.......”

“Apologizing does not make your failure disappear.”

“.......”

Han Cheong-un squeezed his eyes shut.

How could he forget?

He was a failure.

He defeated the Unorthodox Faction and saved the Jianghu, but the ones who enjoyed the glory of that victory were the ugly hypocrites.

Those who sacrificed their lives fighting for true victory became cold corpses and rotted in the ground.

Can that really be called victory?

He cannot even make an excuse.

To such Han Cheong-un, Baek Sua spoke.

“Did you come to Mount Hua to find me?”

“That is right.”

“It must be because you want to borrow my power.”

“Correct.”

He does not lie.

It wouldn't work even if he told a lie to her who possesses the Dragon Eye, but even if it weren't so, he didn't want to lie to her.

And Baek Sua lifted her finger, pointed out the window, and said.

“Get out.”

“Lady Baek.......”

“I will not lend you my power.”

“Lady Baek. If you are not here, there is no way to confront Ghost Spirit Taoist.”

“Once was enough.”

“.......”

“For justice, following your orders, I sacrificed my life once.”

“But isn’t it too shameless to demand it one more time?”

“.......”

“Get out. And do not show yourself in front of me ever again.”

“.......”

“Because I don't even want to see your face.”

At those words, Han Cheong-un couldn't bear to say anything.

* * *

“If the Sect Leader comes back with no results, I should kill him.”

Dang Jin's resolution was firm.

When the Sect Leader first said he would carry out a diversion operation, he also agreed.

It was the operation that seemed best realistically.

And for the diversion operation, he took out the ego of a dissolute man he had unintentionally folded away and caused a scene to the fullest.

In this Mount Hua Sect, of all places.

Naturally, he didn't think it would last long.

Although his martial prowess has been increasing a bit fast these days, what could he do alone against the Mount Hua Sect?

It was enough to just cause a commotion appropriately and get subdued.

However.......

“Damn it, to think people who call themselves Taoists would gang up on me.”

Among Mount Hua Sect's first-class disciples, the most famous Seven Swords of Mount Hua attacked all at once.

Thanks to that, there was no intact spot on Dang Jin's body.

It was fortunate that he wasn't kicked out and was detained in the lodging.

As he was grinding his teeth and waiting.......

Creeeak.

The sound of a door being pushed feebly was heard.

And when he turned his head, there was.......

“Sect Leader?”

“.......”

There was Han Cheong-un, who looked much more powerless than himself who had been beaten to a pulp.

“What happened? Did it not go well?”

Han Cheong-un shook his head feebly and said.

“It seems I have to give up.”

* * *

Han Cheong-un explained everything that happened with Baek Sua.

Then.......

“She has memories?”

“Yes. And not just vague traces like you, she clearly remembers everything.”

“Then...... isn’t it easier to persuade her?”

“I thought so too. But.......”

Han Cheong-un smiled bitterly and continued speaking.

“As I said, didn't I fail perfectly?”

“Failure?”

“The Evil-Annihilating Squad was annihilated. I also rotted away locked in the Murim Alliance's prison, and the ones who enjoyed the glory of war were the worms who played politics behind us using us.......”

“.......”

“Even considering the existence of the Heavenly Demon Jiangshi that killed me at the end, it seems the Eight Gates of the Evil Way were not completely destroyed either. Remnants must have remained.”

“Then....... did we fail?”

“Do you want to say no?”

“No.”

Dang Jin said without an inch of hesitation.

And with a swollen face, he looked at Han Cheong-un seriously and spoke.

“For what did the 'us' you remember fight?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did we fight for the honor and glory that would follow after becoming the victors of the war?”

“.......”

“If what you say is true, the Eight Gates of the Evil Way at that time were a heinous group that calmly committed inhumane acts like Jiangshi Arts.”

“If they conquered the Jianghu, the world that followed would have been hell.”

“That is.......”

“Didn’t we want to stop that?”

“Didn’t we lift our swords and fight risking our lives to protect the powerless weak? That is.......”

Dang Jin glared with both eyes and rebuked Han Cheong-un.

“Isn’t that Chivalry? Is my word wrong?”

“.......”

In that instant, it was visible in Han Cheong-un's eyes.

Not the current young Dang Jin, but Dang Jin with a mature appearance over his mid-forties.

He saw the Vice Captain, like a reliable brother who held him from the side whenever he was struggling, shaking, and crumbling.

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