Chapter 23 : Chapter 23

Chapter 23. This Is Somewhat Unfair (1)

Rewinding time a little.......

Han Cheong-un went to find the Mount Hua Sword Immortal to make a deal with the Mount Hua Sect.

“What brings you here?”

The Mount Hua Sword Immortal looked at the young hero in front of him, who seemed to have Middle-Separation Sickness, with pitiable eyes.

His talent seems outstanding, so how did he catch such a terrible inner demon?

Just as he was feeling regretful.......

“I have found the whereabouts of the Purple Mist Divine Sword.”

“......What?”

He thought he heard wrong.

However, to his question asking back, Han Cheong-un gave the same answer.

“I said I have found the whereabouts of the Purple Mist Divine Sword.”

“......!”

The Mount Hua Sword Immortal's eyebrows shot up.

And after looking at Han Cheong-un for a long time, he said.

“Does the Young Hero know what he himself just said right now?”

“Yes. I fully know.”

“.......”

“Mount Hua's lost divine object, the Purple Mist Divine Sword. I said I have grasped its whereabouts.”

Purple Mist Divine Sword.

It is Mount Hua's divine object and the sect's sacred item symbolizing authority.

Mount Hua had lost such a divine object.

To be precise, it was stolen.

Shadowless Divine Thief.

Because the person known as the greatest divine thief of the time stole Mount Hua's divine object.

Having the divine object stolen was Mount Hua's disgrace, and the Sect Leader of that time could not bear the responsibility and stepped down from the Sect Leader's position himself.

And declaring that he would not return to Mount Hua until he retrieved the divine object, he stepped into the Jianghu.

After that, he traversed the Jianghu trying to find the divine object somehow, but in the end, he could not retrieve it and could not return to Mount Hua as he himself had said.

Eventually, Mount Hua lost the Purple Mist Divine Sword forever.

However.......

“If you bring up the story about the Purple Mist Divine Sword falsely in front of this Taoist right now, do you know how you will take responsibility?”

“Who knows? Perhaps even if I bet my humble life, I wouldn't be able to fulfill the responsibility.”

“.......”

“But what if it is true?”

“.......”

“Would the Sect Leader give up despite having an opportunity to retrieve Mount Hua's divine object? Without even listening to the story?”

At those words, the Mount Hua Sword Immortal stroked his beard, calmed his mind, and said.

“First, let's listen to the story.”

“Understood.”

And what Han Cheong-un said was.......

“I don't know if you are aware, but I have a slight friendship with the Tang Clan.”

“Hmm.......”

“While staying there with the Tang Clan's favor and investigating their library, I accidentally found traces of the Shadowless Divine Thief.”

“In the Tang Clan's library?”

“Yes. As you know, at that time, the Shadowless Divine Thief was a figure who jumped over walls regardless of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Families.”

“That is true.”

Although Mount Hua, which had its divine object stolen, suffered the greatest damage, other sects also failed to stop the Shadowless Divine Thief and suffered great losses.

The world's greatest thief.

The Shadowless Divine Thief is a figure lacking nothing to be called a legend of the Jianghu in the single field of thievery.

And.......

“As a result of analyzing and searching the materials remaining in the Tang Clan, I found a place that can be inferred as the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief.”

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“Of course.”

“.......”

The Mount Hua Sword Immortal closed his eyes gently.

Frankly speaking, it is hard to believe.

If it were Dang Jin, the son of the Sichuan Tang Clan, saying it, there might be some credibility, but isn't this young man named Han Cheong-un a figure who appeared as if he fell from the sky?

He knows that the martial power he possesses is beyond ordinary.

No, considering that age range, there is no talent of that level even in his own sect.

However.......

‘Even so, can I believe these words? The words spoken by a boy whose identity is not even certain?’

“You probably do not trust my words,”

In that instant, Han Cheong-un pierced the Mount Hua Sword Immortal's mind.

And to him who was flustered, he continued.

“However, the Sect Leader must fully trust me.”

“Why is that?”

“An opportunity has come for Mount Hua's Sect Leader to find Mount Hua's divine object, so how could you sit by and watch?”

“.......”

That was true.

Regardless of the truth of the rumor, as long as he is Mount Hua's Sect Leader, finding the divine object was a duty.

“Hmm....... What do you want from me?”

“I want two things. First, I want one helper as the assistance needed to explore the Secret Cave.”

“One person? Is one person enough?”

“Yes. It is sufficient if Lady Baek Sua, a first-class disciple of Mount Hua, accompanies us.”

“How do you know that child?”

He cannot say, 'We sliced up the Unorthodox Faction and sliced up Jiangshi together in the past,' can he?

“We just have a small connection.”

“Hmm, must it be that child?”

“Yes. It is so. And secondly, if we open the Secret Cave and take the treasures inside, please hand over just one of them to me.”

“One thing? Is that enough?”

“Yes. That will do.”

“.......”

It is an unconventional condition.

If the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief actually exists, the value of the treasures contained inside would be hard to even dare estimate.

Aren't they treasures collected over a lifetime by the world's greatest thief?

But he wants just one from there?

“If your words are true, I will grant it as much as you want.”

“Thank you.”

“And for the exploration of the Secret Cave, one person is lacking no matter what.”

“Pardon?”

“I will convene an Elders' meeting and attach more people to you. It will surely be of help.”

“Uh....... That is.......”

Han Cheong-un was flustered for the first time.

Then the Mount Hua Sword Immortal narrowed his eyes and said.

“What is it? Does having several people attached become a hindrance or something?”

Yes. It is a hindrance.

So please just attach Baek Sua alone.

“No. It is fine.”

He cannot say that, can he?

‘This is not good?’

From the Mount Hua Sword Immortal's perspective, considering the importance of the matter, he would want to attach several people.

But Han Cheong-un thought.

Doing this will inevitably scratch and make a sore.

* * *

After the meeting with the Mount Hua Sword Immortal ended.

Baek Sua came outside and stared intently at Han Cheong-un.

“What is the matter? Lady Baek?”

“.......”

“Is there anything on my face by any chance?”

To Han Cheong-un asking nonchalantly, Baek Sua said with a vein popping on her forehead.

“Since when were you so good at scamming?”

“Scamming? No way? Me?”

“.......”

“It is a misunderstanding. As Lady Baek also knows well, the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief really exists.”

“I know that.”

Baek Sua answered in a fit of rage.

The information regarding the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief is true.

Because he revealed himself during the truce period after the First Orthodox-Unorthodox Great War ended and before the Second Orthodox-Unorthodox Great War began, causing a great commotion.

However.......

“You found that in the Sichuan Tang Clan's library?”

“Coincidentally, this thought occurred to me right at that time, so it isn't a complete lie.”

“.......”

Was he such a shameless person?

No? The Han Cheong-un in her memory was always upright, polite, and a person like a model of the Orthodox Faction.

But does a person change like this after dying once and coming back to life?

To Baek Sua, who was feeling something similar to betrayal, Han Cheong-un spoke.

“Lady Baek, regardless of the reason, inside the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief is the Purple Mist Divine Sword. You know that, right?”

“That is.......”

“If Lady is also a disciple of Mount Hua, isn't it proper to do your best to find the sect's divine object?”

“.......”

He is detestable.

Because the words themselves are correct.

This is probably why historically, many people who spoke correct words had short lives.

Baek Sua choked up but had no justification to argue.

Eventually.......

“This is the only time.”

“You mean you will help.”

“I say it again, but this is the only time. I....... anyway, will not get involved with you in the future.”

“I look forward to working with you. Lady Baek.”

He is really detestable.

That face smiling brightly, and herself who cannot just hate him.

* * *

The personnel to explore the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief were quickly selected.

Han Cheong-un and Dang Jin.

And five first-class disciples including Baek Sua requested from Mount Hua, and even a Mount Hua Elder personally came forth.

“I am called Hyun Myeong.”

“.......”

“Do you not know how to greet an elder when you see one?”

“Nice to meet you. I am called Han Cheong-un.”

“Tsk, anyway, young ones these days.......”

Mount Hua's Third Elder, Righteous Heart Sword Hyun Myeong.

As a figure with high fame for chivalrous acts since young, he is the figure who engages in the most external activities among Mount Hua's elders.

Widely known to the world for his righteous and excellent character, he clicked his tongue like that and moved away from Han Cheong-un.

And when he moved away, Han Cheong-un sat down on the spot and thought inwardly.

‘Ah...... I’m screwed.’

When the Mount Hua Sword Immortal said he would send someone, he expected about one Elder to come.

But he never knew this human would come.

“What is the matter? Sect Leader?”

When Dang Jin asked from the side, Han Cheong-un just sighed deeply and said.

“......is one of them.”

“What is?”

“One of the people who shoved me into a state of neither dead nor alive.”

“......Eeeeh?!”

Dang Jin was greatly shocked.

* * *

Righteous Heart Sword Hyun Myeong.

He is an Elder of Mount Hua and also an Elder of the Murim Alliance, a figure worthy of being called a celebrity of the typical Orthodox Murim.

But the reality Han Cheong-un experienced is truly a terrible old fogey.

Before leading the Evil-Annihilating Squad, from the days of the Seven Swords Squad, Han Cheong-un had an ill-fated relationship with him.

To Hyun Myeong, whose old fogey nature explodes just by young kids not following obediently and talking back, Han Cheong-un, a mere low-ranking warrior who argued with logic and retorted to superiors, must have been truly a reactionary element.

As the Evil-Annihilating Squad gradually played an active part and established brilliant merits, an atmosphere acknowledging Han Cheong-un and the Evil-Annihilating Squad was forming even in the Murim Alliance's leadership, but there were those who did not acknowledge Han Cheong-un until the end.

Hyun Myeong was the one who most passionately did not acknowledge Han Cheong-un's achievements among them.

[Most of the merit the Evil-Annihilating Squad established in this battle was possible because the Five Swords Squad exhausted the enemy first!]

[Captain Han Cheong-un escaping from the Ghost Gate Palace's evil arts was just revealing individual skill, not an achievement that helped the Alliance.]

[Oho, World's Best Spear? On what grounds is he the World's Best Spear? There are so many spear users under the heavens, on what grounds?]

It was to the point of being absolutely tiresome.

That man was the type who would say he has to wait until tomorrow to know even if Han Cheong-un said the sun rises in the east.

And the final moment.

The one who stabbed a sword into Han Cheong-un's body was the Alliance Leader, True Master Cheongheo.

But the collapsing Han Cheong-un saw.

The cold gaze watching him collapse from behind that Alliance Leader.

Those receiving respect in one body, called the so-called Elders of the Murim Alliance and tycoons of the Orthodox Murim.

Among them, there was clearly Hyun Myeong too.

“Then is that person one of the Sect Leader's enemies?”

“Something like that.”

Han Cheong-un sighed.

He thought he would get involved with them again someday, but he didn't know he would get involved again this quickly.

“Then, what will you do? Will you proceed as planned?”

At Dang Jin's question, Han Cheong-un closed his eyes and fell into thought.

And then.......

“For now, let's do as planned. However, twisting it a bit differently from the existing plan.”

“Twisting it? How?”

“Leave that to me.”

Han Cheong-un smirked.

Yes. In a sense, this might be an opportunity. Thinking about what he suffered from that old fogey in the life before regression.......

‘It would be fine to pay him back once, right?’

A very, very deep smile hung on the corners of Han Cheong-un's mouth thinking so.

* * *

“The location of the Secret Cave is in Hunan.”

Han Cheong-un brought up the main subject straight away.

Then Elder Hyun Myeong stroked his beard and thought.

‘He informs us more obediently than I thought. Is it lack of experience? Or is he being polite?’

The biggest role of Han Cheong-un in Mount Hua conquering the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief is information.

Since only Han Cheong-un knows the location of the Secret Cave, they had no choice but to leave the initiative to him at least until arriving at the Secret Cave.

But the location of the Secret Cave came out of Han Cheong-un's mouth too easily.

“Hunan....... Where in Hunan?”

“I know that the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief is hidden in a place called Mount Nokrok in Hunan.”

“Mount Nokrok? That place is clearly.......”

“Yes. It is a place that narrowly overlaps with the domain of the Ultimate Path Gate.”

“Hmm.......”

Hyun Myeong pondered.

Ultimate Path Gate.

One of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way, and that sect's prestige is never below the Mount Hua Sect.

It is not easy for Mount Hua's disciples to act recklessly in the domain of such a sect.

Then.......

“It might be difficult to conquer the Secret Cave with only Mount Hua's power.”

At Hyun Myeong's words, Han Cheong-un smiled and said.

“Then what will you do?”

“It would be best to request aid from the Murim Alliance according to standard procedure.”

From the Murim Alliance? Request aid?

These are words spoken by a Mount Hua Elder who moves leading Mount Hua disciples under instructions from Mount Hua's Sect Leader.

He stroked his beard with a nonchalant expression and said.

“Anyway, if we discover the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief, we must report to the Alliance too. So it is better to report in advance now and receive military support.”

What kind of bullshit is this?

In such an atmosphere, a first-class disciple who was next to him spoke hurriedly.

“Elder. This is a Mount Hua event personally ordered by the Sect Leader. But if we report to the Alliance, doesn't it give the Alliance a justification to intervene?”

In fact, justification aside, just the name Shadowless Divine Thief coming out will make all sorts of riffraff from all over the world rush in.

The Murim Alliance will also actively intervene.

This is the same as saying Mount Hua loses the rights to the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief.

However.......

“Oho, for the peace and order of the world, we must respect the Alliance's decision. How can one who calls himself a chivalrous warrior of the Orthodox Faction be so narrow-minded?”

“But Elder, the Sect Leader's command.......”

“Oho, the Sect Leader delegated full authority to me. Do you not know that my decision now is soon the decision of Sect Leader Senior Brother?”

“.......”

“Tsk tsk, you are still young and immature. How can you be so rash? Infinite Life Buddha.......”

Ah, as expected.......

He's doing that again.

A conversation conducted under the grand premise that everything young kids say is wrong.

There is not a speck of logic, but the authority established under the name of seniority in the Orthodox Murim is tremendous.

Once he comes out like that, just opening one's mouth makes one a bad guy, a rude guy, a guy like a disgrace to the Orthodox Faction who knows neither manners nor anything else.

‘I suffered a lot in the past.’

Han Cheong-un stepped forward himself on behalf of the disciple sweating profusely from trouble.

“The Elder's words are entirely correct.”

The first method to cater to an old fogey.

First, agree with him.

“In fact, there is no way a Mount Hua Elder would fear the Ultimate Path Gate. That is truly laughable.”

“Ahem.......”

“But the Elder intends to mobilize overwhelming military power by borrowing the Alliance's power to suppress useless disputes. I think it is truly a wise policy.”

The second method to cater to an old fogey.

Save his face unconditionally.

If his face collapses, he goes berserk.

“Honestly, even if called the Eight Gates of the Evil Way, they are nothing in front of the name of Mount Hua, a part of the renowned Nine Sects. Isn't that so?”

“Ahem.......”

And at Han Cheong-un's following flattery, Elder Hyun Myeong stroked his beard with a pleased expression.

Thinking he had catered enough, Han Cheong-un.......

“However, although lacking, would you listen to my opinion once?”

“Your opinion?”

“Yes. Unlike the Elder's wise policy, it is merely a trivial clever scheme, but if done well, it might work sufficiently.”

“Hmm....... What is it?”

Is it because he bought favor for Han Cheong-un for now?

Unlike usual, Hyun Myeong tried to listen to young Han Cheong-un's words.

And Han Cheong-un smiled and said.......

“It is a camouflage operation.”

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