Almighty God of War - Chapter 180

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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180

Baek Muok startled and looked up at Guyang Cheongang.

“Master!”

However, Guyang Cheongang remained quietly staring straight ahead without even twitching an eyebrow.

He had already grasped the fact that someone was hiding on the old tree ten zhang away.

This was not something he had discovered through a martial artist’s keen senses.

Honestly speaking, with his current martial arts level, he could not detect even a trace of the voice’s owner’s presence.

He couldn’t even hear breathing, and felt no warmth or even the slightest energy – it was perfect concealment.

The old man who had spoken was a terrifying master that even he would find difficult to guarantee victory against.

But Akasha’s eyes could not be deceived.

She had established a real-time nanobot surveillance network within a radius of two hundred zhang centered on Guyang Cheongang.

While one could erase presence and aura through martial arts, physical substance could not be erased.

Akasha’s system had already clearly captured the shadow hiding in the tree through heat detection and motion tracking.

Guyang Cheongang slowly turned his head to pierce through the darkness ten zhang away.

Then he pulled his bamboo hat down deeply again and spoke coldly.

“I do not know which faction you belong to, but this Guyang does not particularly welcome uninvited guests who appear without notice.”

His chilly tone cut through the night air.

After a moment of silence, an exclamation mixed with admiration flowed from the tree.

“Huh! To detect this old man’s presence at such a young age. You’re a much more dangerous fellow than the rumors suggest!”

Whiiiiik-!

As wind seemed to brush by once, a human figure suddenly appeared like magic on the ground one zhang in front of Guyang Cheongang.

He was an old beggar with an utterly wretched appearance.

His white hair, tangled like a scrub brush, stretched wildly past his shoulders, and his face was so stained with grime that even his original skin color was hard to discern.

Only his strawberry nose, red and burning from alcohol poisoning, stood out in the darkness.

His mouth, large like a catfish’s, hung open foolishly, and not a single tooth visible inside appeared to be intact.

From his tattered clothes, no different from rags, came a mixture of rotten alcohol smell and unidentifiable stench.

Baek Muok frowned deeply and covered his nose with his hand.

“Ugh…”

Guyang Cheongang’s gaze went not to the old man’s upper body but to his lower half.

Beneath the fluttering old trouser legs, below the old man’s left knee was an artificial leg made of metal that gleamed with cold metallic light.

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes deepened.

“Are you an elder of the Beggar Sect?”

“Oh ho, you know me?”

“I do not. I merely guessed since no other faction under heaven would stride about with such an appearance as yours, elder.”

“Look at this fellow? Is that an insult or a compliment?”

“That would depend on the magnanimity of the one receiving it.”

The old man chuckled and twisted his beard.

“This young fellow speaks as smoothly as a snake slithering over a wall.”

“Do you have business with me?”

“Quite impatient too.”

“If you have no business, then I shall take my leave.”

As Guyang Cheongang took Baek Muok’s hand and turned to leave without hesitation, the old man clicked his tongue and blocked their path.

“How ruthless you are, boy. The path ahead will be treacherous.”

Guyang Cheongang continued walking and replied indifferently.

“I am aware.”

“Even if it’s a death trap beyond whatever you might imagine?”

“I will handle it myself.”

“It will be difficult to handle alone, won’t it?”

“Since it has nothing to do with you, elder, please mind your own business.”

The old man made an expression of disbelief as if dumbfounded.

“I take back calling you ruthless. You’re just a brat who ate rudeness mixed with rice.”

“Did you come all this way just to play word games with me?”

“Hardly. Though I may look like this, this old man is busy beyond belief.”

“Then go quickly and attend to your affairs.”

The old man looked at Guyang Cheongang’s profile as if viewing a rare treasure and muttered.

“Huh… He doesn’t lose a single word. How did such a strange fellow emerge from the bloodline of that scholar half-wit Guyang Beom?”

Guyang Cheongang, who had been walking while looking straight ahead, suddenly turned his head toward the old man.

“…Do you know my great-grandfather?”

A flash of melancholy and longing passed through the old man’s eyes.

“I knew him a bit in the past. Though he was quite stubborn, he was a pretty decent drinking companion. It was quite regrettable when that friend younger than me passed away first, as it completely ruined the taste of alcohol.”

In Gangho, the expression ‘drinking companion’ could mean friendship that transcended life and death, beyond simple acquaintance.

Guyang Cheongang stopped for a moment and bowed his head with a respectful cupped fist salute.

“I did not know you had deep ties with my great-grandfather. Please forgive me if I was discourteous.”

The old beggar burst into loud laughter at that ever-changing attitude.

“Kuhahahaha! Truly worthy of being that scholar half-wit’s grandson! That friend’s blood hasn’t gone anywhere!”

The old man stopped laughing and casually revealed his name.

“This old man is called Iron Staff Great Hero of the Beggar Sect. Have you heard of it?”

Guyang Cheongang shook his head indifferently.

“My knowledge is shallow, so this is the first time I hear that title.”

“Well, it’s been over forty years since I left Gangho, so it would be stranger if you recognized it.”

Guyang Cheongang truly did not know who he was.

But if any martial artist of intermediate level or above had been present, they would have collapsed in shock upon hearing that title.

He was the former Supreme Dharma Protector of the Beggar Sect and a peerless master praised as the strongest expert the Beggar Sect had produced in the past hundred years.

Iron Staff Great Hero looked at Guyang Cheongang with curious eyes and asked.

“But is it true that your martial arts have truly reached the level of Transformation Realm?”

“If being able to freely emit sword energy is what that realm is called, then yes.”

The old man clicked his tongue and let out an exclamation.

“Huh… Transformation Realm at that age. A monster rare in ancient and modern times has been born in the Guyang Family Estate. Your great-grandfather must be dancing with joy underground.”

The old man’s following tone sank seriously.

“There is intelligence that old monsters from the Gunma Alliance and Heavenly Death Department, who don’t even follow the control of their alliance leader or department head, are moving to hunt you. Not just them, but several others blinded by greed are sharpening their claws. Preserving your life on this journey home won’t be so easy.”

Instead of answering, Guyang Cheongang smiled faintly.

Then the old man scowled and grumbled.

“Boy, don’t smile! Your face looks more dangerous than the Heavenly Demon Palace’s bewitching arts.”

“Isn’t it better to look at than a crying expression?”

“How did such a thing emerge from the Guyang Family Estate…”

Iron Staff Great Hero shook his head and continued.

“Pungnimgok is a place with ten thousand times more secrets than known to Gangho. Since that place’s existence became known, you are the only survivor who stayed inside for four months. It’s natural that the old monsters of Gangho are watching you.”

“Is that so?”

“If they target you, the Emperor’s protection won’t work.”

“You even knew about the close relationship between His Majesty and the main family?”

“This old man is from the Beggar Sect.”

It was a statement that needed no further explanation.

The power of the Beggar Sect, which knew all information under heaven like the palm of their hand, could be felt.

“Between the government and Murim, there is a line of mutual non-aggression that should not be crossed. This Pungnimgok affair is clearly Murim business. The Emperor cannot intervene without justification. The old monsters know this weakness, so they will target you without restraint.”

Guyang Cheongang, who had been listening, suddenly asked as if testing.

“Are you also curious about what I obtained from that place, Noya?”

Iron Staff Great Hero shook his head firmly.

“I already know too much and my lifespan is shortening, so if this old man also covets that secret, I won’t survive this year and will die young.”

His gaze toward Guyang Cheongang suddenly became intense.

“Need help?”

“It’s not necessary.”

It was a firm refusal without even a moment’s hesitation.

Iron Staff Great Hero clicked his tongue.

“Stubborn as an ox, aren’t you. Still, if you ever feel like your neck is truly in danger, take refuge at a nearby Beggar’s Sect branch. At least they’ll be able to keep you breathing.”

“So that’s what you came all this way to tell me. But that won’t happen.”

“Hehe, no one knows what the future holds. That’s what makes life so arduous.”

Iron Staff Great Hero leaned on his staff and shuffled forward.

Though his steps didn’t seem particularly fast, his body movement quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Guyang Cheongang respectfully cupped his fist and bowed toward his retreating figure.

Baek Muok, who had been watching from the side, asked with bewildered eyes.

“Master, is that person also an eccentric of Gangho?”

“You could say that.”

“Just looking at his appearance, he seemed like any common beggar grandfather…”

“That’s why judging people by their outward appearance alone is called the most foolish thing to do.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes sank deeply.

He didn’t know exactly who Iron Staff Great Hero was, and so he didn’t fully trust his words either.

To believe at face value the goodwill of someone who claimed friendship with his ancestor and offered help upon first meeting—he had already seen too many ugly sides of masters like Jegal Ryong.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

That truth was eternal and unchanging.

‘It takes time to confirm a person’s true intentions. But it seems I’ve properly drawn Gangho’s attention.’

He began walking again and asked his disciple.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

Baek Muok shook his head with an expressionless face.

“No. I’m with you, Master.”

A smile bloomed at the corners of Guyang Cheongang’s mouth.

He patted his disciple’s shoulder a couple of times with pride and said.

“Let’s stop by a nearby village and get a horse.”

“Yes, Master!”

The shadows of the two people left the embrace of Cheonbo Mountain and headed toward the vast earth.

Bright moonlight gently illuminated the backs of the master and disciple walking silently.

Two days later, as the western horizon was being dyed red.

The cheerful sound of horse hooves broke the silence over the vast official road leading from Yangju toward Geumneung.

Clop-clop, clop-clop—

A single black horse with solid muscles appeared, raising dust, and on its back rode Guyang Cheongang and Baek Muok side by side.

Guyang Cheongang had modified his original plan to use canal transport.

Though waterways were fast, the open waters were vulnerable to surprise attacks.

With young Baek Muok accompanying him, engaging in river battles would be inviting unnecessary danger.

So even though it was slower and more arduous, he chose the land route with fewer variables.

The horse’s pace was unhurried, as if they were sightseeing.

As darkness settled around them and the sun completely hid itself beyond the horizon, pale blue stars began to emerge one by one.

The endless fields stretching on both sides of the official road fell into deep silence, and a desolate night arrived with not a single household light in sight.

“We’ll have to sleep outdoors tonight.”

Guyang Cheongang said after confirming on the map that even the nearest village was still over fifty li away.

“Understood, Master.”

Baek Muok’s response was calm.

For him, coming from a slash-and-burn village, spending the night on the road was routine, and with his master beside him, using the ground as a bed was no problem at all.

Guyang Cheongang’s gaze turned toward a forest several hundred zhang ahead.

Though small in scale, the trees were dense enough to block the wind, and the official road ran right through its center.

“Muok, let’s rest in that forest.”

It was when they had driven the horse about two li into the forest.

A spacious clearing of about thirty zhang in all directions appeared, surrounded by dense trees like a folding screen.

The sky opened clearly through gaps in the thick branches like holes had been punched through, and starlight poured down through those openings.

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes narrowed as he pulled the reins to stop the horse at the clearing’s entrance.

Baek Muok also pointed ahead with sparkling eyes.

“Master, over there…”

In the middle of the clearing, a campfire was burning.

Crackle— crackle-crackle—

Along with the sound of burning firewood, some unidentifiable meat skewered on branches was cooking.

The savory aroma of meat stimulated their nostrils through the night air.

But what truly captured Baek Muok’s attention wasn’t the meat, but the man sitting beside it.

“…He’s huge.”

Baek Muok muttered in a daze.

The build of the man sitting before the campfire was so massive that even the black horse standing nearby looked small in comparison.

He appeared to be easily over eight feet tall.

His shoulders were as wide as a door, his forearms as thick as Baek Muok’s thighs, and his massive hands reminiscent of pot lids radiated an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

The man’s appearance created the illusion of a rocky mountain sitting in human form.

The man slowly turned his head.

Though tangled, bushy hair covered half his face like vines, the gleam in his eyes that pierced through was as fierce as that of a starving beast.

Deep in those pupils swirled an eerie madness that could explode at any moment.

Guyang Cheongang lifted Baek Muok with an impassive expression and dismounted from the horse.

An indescribable tension heavily pressed down on the clearing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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