Chapter 110: Comrade (2)

A space akin to the universe.

It was the scene that had unfolded before Jang Woo-hyun when Cheon Heo-jin revealed his power previously.

All the countless people passing by and surrounding buildings vanished, leaving only Jang Woo-hyun and Cheon Heo-jin in the vast expanse of space.

It didn’t seem like he had come to cause harm, but just in case, Jang Woo-hyun gripped his sword and looked directly at Cheon Heo-jin.

【I came to apologize.】

It wasn’t a spoken voice, but a thought that entered directly into Jang Woo-hyun’s mind.

“Apologize? What do you mean?”

【As you might have realized, I introduced you to others with a certain purpose in mind.】

He was referring to the meeting held a few days ago by the Ten Sects.

At that time, Jang Woo-hyun had felt that Cheon Heo-jin’s introduction was intentional, and indeed, his intuition had been correct.

【You may be in danger now.】

“You’ve skipped too many details, I don’t quite follow what you mean……”

【Most martial artists possess what’s called a competitive spirit. Jang Hyung’s……】

“Could you stop calling me ‘Jang Hyung’? Surely you're much older than I am.”

【I just find it comfortable to use. But if you truly dislike it, I’ll call you Jang Daehyeop.】

“No, just go with whatever’s comfortable for you.”

Jang Woo-hyun cringed at the title ‘Daehyeop’.

He may have appeared young on the outside, but Cheon Heo-jin’s age was surely at least a few hundred years.

‘Maybe he’s over a thousand.’

Moreover, he was someone sitting at a far higher position than himself. Being called ‘Daehyeop’ by such a person felt far too awkward.

‘Jang Hyung is better. “Daehyeop” feels off.’

Thus, he preferred to be called Jang Hyung rather than Daehyeop.

“What do you mean I might be in danger?”

【Among the components that make up a martial artist, the greatest part is competitive spirit.】

Competitive spirit.

The desire to win at all costs.

It was something most martial artists harbored.

Martial artists constantly sought to test their skills.

Through sparring or life-and-death duels, they ceaselessly tried to validate their martial prowess, always craving victory.

Hence why those from the Central Heavens Martial Realm were often referred to as Warrior Ascendants—immortals who fought.

【In the world of martial artists, the Murim, if your name becomes known, there will only be one kind of response.】

“Ah.”

With those words, Jang Woo-hyun understood what Cheon Heo-jin was implying.

“You used me as bait.”

【Correct. The rising master who defeated Sa Do-woong of the Twin-Winged Lotus and thwarted his scheme. A newly emerged expert, whose name isn’t known, yet who possesses skills comparable to the successor of the Beast King Sect and is acquainted with a great monster from the Demonic Spirit Realm—people are bound to become curious.】

“You intend to use me to draw out those in hiding?”

【That I cannot guarantee. But if we can even shake them once, that alone is worthwhile.】

Even someone like Cheon Heo-jin, regarded as one of the Seventeen Lords, could not predict whether the ones in hiding would make a move, or what events might unfold. Jang Woo-hyun was merely one among many strategies he had prepared.

“Did you appear just to explain the situation?”

【No. That’s not the only reason. Since you may be in danger, I came to suggest staying at the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect. We will provide every convenience. What do you say about staying at the Tai Chi Sect? I could also assist with your training.】

“No, thank you.”

It was a direct offer from the Sect Leader of the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect, but Jang Woo-hyun firmly declined.

He had no intention of belonging anywhere, and if he had needed a place to lean on, he could have followed Maeng Ye-ju. The Beast King Sect also held him in high regard.

The Sect Leader of the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect was extending his hand.

Someone might call it a miraculous encounter. But Jang Woo-hyun didn’t want to get entangled.

More importantly—

‘I don’t know who might come for me, so I can’t just hide.’

He had his own way of doing things.

Train, then fight. Fight, then train. That was how Jang Woo-hyun had grown stronger.

The fact that someone might come for him was dangerous, but it was also an opportunity. A good opportunity.

Jang Woo-hyun chose the dangerous opportunity over locking himself away training at the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect.

“May I ask you something?”

【As much as you like.】

“This place. I mean, the place where I’m facing you—is this your Microcosm? Your domain? Is it something a master at the Realm of Wish can do?”

【Microcosm. Domain. Either term works. A normal Realm of Wish master couldn’t do this. My martial art is unique, so it’s easier for me to manifest it than others.】

Hearing this, Jang Woo-hyun looked around the surrounding space that resembled the universe. After a short pause, Cheon Heo-jin opened his mouth again.

【Is that your only question?】

“For now, yes.”

【Then let me ask once more. Are you really not considering coming to the Tai Chi Sect?】

“Yes. I have things to do.”

【Understood. Then let’s end here.】

Cheon Heo-jin smiled and gave a courteous farewell. The surroundings rippled, and in the blink of an eye, Jang Woo-hyun was back on the main road of the city.

“Hyungnim? Hyungnim? Are you alright?”

A voice came from behind—Jin Ha-un's.

“Uh, I’m fine. How long was I like that?”

“Just for a moment. What happened though? Why did you suddenly block in front of me?”

‘The flow of time is different.’

Although it felt like quite a long time had passed with Cheon Heo-jin, not much actual time seemed to have gone by. That space resembling the universe wasn’t a physical place, so time likely flowed rapidly as if consciousness had been accelerated.

“It’s nothing. Someone came to see me.”

“Sorry? What do you mean by that? Who would come see you?”

“There’s someone like that.”

After calming Jin Ha-un and taking a few steps forward, Cheon Heo-jin’s voice echoed again.

【Farewell.】

Knowing he was being watched from somewhere, Jang Woo-hyun slightly bowed his head in greeting.

【Ah! And the Supreme Sect Master said you must visit again.】

‘Supreme Sect Master?’

【He said you would understand if I told you he’s preparing a good secret manual.】

At Cheon Heo-jin’s words, Jang Woo-hyun turned his head. He remembered who was being referred to and recalled the place he had visited before.

‘That old man... was he the Supreme Sect Master of the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect?’

The bookstore he had visited to learn more about the martial arts of the Central Heavens Martial Realm.

The old man Cheon Heo-jin spoke of was the one he had met at that bookstore.

“What’s wrong again?”

“Ha-un, who’s the Supreme Sect Master of the Tai Chi Sect?”

“The Supreme Sect Master of the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect? That’s Taecheong Divine Sovereign, one of the Ten Thrones.”

“How strong is he?”

“You know the Six Heavens, right? He’s considered the best next to them.”

“That old man……”

Was he really that much of a giant figure? Jang Woo-hyun had known he wasn’t an ordinary person, but he didn’t expect him to be such a formidable martial artist.

Whether it was a coincidence or some kind of scheme, Jang Woo-hyun had formed a connection with a major figure of the Central Heavens Martial Realm.

‘I didn’t recognize him at all.’

The difference in class was too vast—he had seen him up close and didn’t even realize he was a martial artist. He had thought the man was accomplished in some field other than martial arts.

“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

“I think I met that old man.”

“What? Where? No way. Are you serious?”

Even Jin Ha-un, who had spent years in the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect, had never seen even a shadow of him. Most disciples of the Tai Chi Sect had never seen him either. A figure of such legend that people didn’t even know if he was alive—Taecheong Divine Sovereign.

Jang Woo-hyun, walking ahead, did not answer Ha-un’s continued questions of disbelief and simply smiled.

‘Still far to go.’

Even the heads of the sects he met at the meeting were difficult opponents for his current strength. Yet, there were still those above them.

The Seventeen Lords. And the Ten Thrones and the Six Heavens.

In the Central Plains, his growth had quickly met its limits.

But now things were different. There was still a long road ahead.

Thinking that it was going to become more interesting, Jang Woo-hyun urged Jin Ha-un forward.

“Are you there! Cho-su nim! Cho-yul nim! This is Jang Woo-hyun!”

Leaving behind the encounter with Cheon Heo-jin, the two flew quickly and arrived at Cho-su’s residence.

The first task was to inquire about the black sword that Windstorm Great Saint had mentioned, and on the side, he was also thinking of gifting a sword to Jin Ha-un.

“Just come in! Why’re you calling people!”

At the voice coming from inside the gate, Jang Woo-hyun and Jin Ha-un opened the door and stepped in.

The interior looked no different than before.

Mechanical insects flew around carrying things, and human-shaped puppets were organizing items piled in one corner.

“Wow……”

Jin Ha-un gaped in awe at the sight. Unlike Jang Woo-hyun, it was his first time seeing such a scene. Even while being in the Central Heavens Realm, he had never seen anything like it.

“Do those move on their own?”

“Yeah, they’re called automatic puppets.”

“Wow.”

As the amazed Jin Ha-un watched, Cho-su approached.

“Nothing happened, right? You got here quick.”

Her skin looked powdered white, with a vertically split eye between her brows. One of her arms was a mechanical prosthetic made of metal.

“Oh, a machinist.”

“Who's this kid?”

“He’s my younger brother.”

“Brother? You have a brother? Wait, aren’t you someone who ascended? What’s with the brother all of a sudden?”

“We’re both from the Lower Realm.”

“What? Uh… I mean……”

It was an unfamiliar situation, and Cho-su was taken aback. Cases of individuals ascending at similar times were extremely rare, and it was the first time he had seen such a case in person.

To the flustered Cho-su, Jang Woo-hyun explained that Jin Ha-un had ascended after he himself had come up.

“We met at the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect and came together.”

“I’m Jin Ha-un.”

“Uh, uh, right. This is my first time with something like this too, so I was a bit surprised. But what brings you here? Are you returning the sword?”

Cho-su pointed at the black sword.

“It is about the sword, but I’m not returning it.”

“Then?”

“I just have a few questions. Ah, and I’ve sealed the sword’s curse.”

“You sealed it? How?”

“The monkey—well, I asked Windstorm Great Saint to make it usable when I summoned him.”

“……”

At the absurd remark, Cho-su fell silent.

“Wait. Wait. Did I hear that right? You asked Windstorm Great Saint, and he sealed the curse of the sword?”

“Yes.”

A brief silence followed.

“What the hell are you saying, you lunatic.”

Unable to accept such an unbelievable fact, Cho-su shattered the silence with a sudden curse.

“What do you mean by that? Are you insane?”

When Jang Woo-hyun met Cho-yul, a man who looked like what Cho-su might become in old age, and told him the same story, Cho-yul also treated him like a madman.

“Kuhehehe, see? Told you I wasn’t the only one. Anyone would react like that.”

Having already heard the explanation and brought Jang Woo-hyun along, Cho-su was now holding his stomach laughing uncontrollably at the side.

Seeing the same reaction he had just seen a moment ago, Jang Woo-hyun let out a sigh and began to explain.

“So here’s what happened.”

When he told them that he had been chased by Twin-Winged Lotus, summoned Windstorm Great Saint, and fought together with him, Cho-yul’s expression shifted constantly as he listened.

“Before fighting him, I asked if he could make the sword usable, and he just did it. Since then, the black smoke from the sword disappeared too.”

“You’re telling me to believe this right now?”

“It’s hard to believe, right? That’s why I checked myself. The brand is still there, but it doesn’t surface. Doesn’t seem like a temporary patch either.”

“Well, even after hearing it, it’s still hard to believe. That notorious great monster helping someone, of all things.”

No matter how he thought about it, it was an unbelievable tale. All the rumors surrounding Windstorm Great Saint were about fighting or killing someone.

“That aside, why have you come again?”

“I have a few things to ask about the black sword, and I was wondering if we could get a sword for Ha-un too. Also, I wanted to repay the help from before.”

“I’ve got swords. I’ll give you a decent one. But what do you mean repay?”

“When you modified Yongwangrin for me before, I don’t think I properly repaid you, so I brought some things you might need. Ha-un.”

“Yes.”

At his call, Jin Ha-un poured out everything he had received from Maeng Ye-ju into the Inner Robe.

Chwarureuk.

Rare metals, ores, inner cores and byproducts from monsters that could be used as materials spilled out in an instant.

“This guy... he really is crazy……”

“Seriously.”

Looking at the types and amount of materials piling up, Cho-yul and Cho-su both stood with their mouths agape.

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