Almighty God of War - Chapter 79

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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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079

Returning to Bamboo Forest Manor, Guyang Cheongang confided everything that had happened at the Sea Dragon Inn to Heo Ilbi.

“Phoenix Sword Sect… So they’re trying to meet the Divine Physician of Life and Death…”

Heo Ilbi continued with a stern expression.

Gang-a, the fact that they’re looking for you is no ordinary matter.

Guyang Cheongang asked back.

“Uncle, what kind of place is Phoenix Sword Sect that you say such things?”

“They are one of the ten pillars supporting the Heavenly Martial Alliance, the most powerful force among the Five Great Powers under Heaven, known as the Ten Pillars of Heaven.”

For Guyang Cheongang, who didn’t know much about the Gangho martial world, this was the first time hearing such a name.

He asked.

“How do they compare to Bamboo Forest Manor?”

“Hehehe, if they are the sun, then Bamboo Forest Manor is like a firefly.”

“Hmm, so they’re a major force.”

“It’s understandable that you can’t grasp it since you still lack experience in Gangho.”

Heo Ilbi’s words were not an exaggeration.

Phoenix Sword Sect had hundreds of years of history, but was a mysterious sect whose true nature was unclear since their disciples didn’t engage in Gangho activities.

The first time they revealed themselves was during the Great War between Orthodox and Demonic sects forty years ago.

They achieved remarkable feats in defeating the Demonic Cult, and after the war ended, at the earnest request of the Heavenly Martial Alliance Leader, they didn’t return to seclusion but remained with the Heavenly Martial Alliance.

Phoenix Sword Sect’s swordsmanship was known to be strong enough to be called one of the Five Great Sword Sects under Heaven, along with Wudang, Mount Hua, the Namgung Family, and the Blue Bird of Putuo Temple.

Heo Ilbi continued with a worried tone.

“It was good that you didn’t confront them enough to earn their resentment at the inn. I know your abilities are exceptional, but you’re not yet strong enough to roam Gangho alone. You must be cautious in your future actions.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. But their leader was a woman named Yu Cheongok. Have you ever heard of her?”

“I haven’t heard of her. Why do you ask?”

“Judging by how the three men treated her, she seemed to hold a high position within Phoenix Sword Sect.”

“There’s a saying in Gangho to be careful of old men, children, and women. Be cautious.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

That night, Guyang Cheongang met separately with Heo Choryeong at the pavilion in the back garden.

“Elder Sister, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Please take care of Golden Brother. I don’t think I’ll be able to take him with me for a while.”

At his sudden words, Heo Choryeong’s eyes widened.

“Golden King? Is something wrong?”

“There are those who are targeting me. But Golden Brother’s golden fur is far too conspicuous. I can change his fur color, but if we travel together, even if I change my appearance with a human skin mask, they’ll recognize my identity.”

Heo Choryeong’s eyes became complex.

In her heart, the regret of having to send him alone into the dangerous Gangho crossed with the overwhelming emotion of being entrusted with a precious companion.

“If that’s the reason, I can certainly take care of him.”

“Thank you, Elder Sister.”

Guyang Cheongang looked at Golden King nestled in Heo Choryeong’s arms and said.

“Golden Brother, I’d like to continue traveling together, but for now, this is the safest place.”

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

It was because he saw an expression on Golden King’s face that seemed to welcome his words.

Heo Choryeong hugged Golden King tightly in her arms and said.

“Don’t worry, Gang-je. I’ll take good care of Golden King. So don’t worry about anything and go.”

A smile spread around her eyes as she spoke.

‘As long as Golden King is here, no matter how far Gang-je goes, he’ll have no choice but to return here to get him. So Golden King is the most precious bond connecting Gang-je and me.’

Golden King, nestled in her arms, waved his hand at Guyang Cheongang as if telling him to get lost, with an expression showing no dissatisfaction at all.

Guyang Cheongang glared at the little guy once in disappointment, then chuckled and let it go.

“Golden Brother, don’t cause trouble and stay well-behaved until I return. Understood?”

Hmph!

Golden King snorted.

The next day, Guyang Cheongang left Bamboo Forest Manor alone.

From within the arms of Heo Choryeong who was seeing him off, Golden King finally made a somewhat wistful sound.

Kiiiek…

Entering a deserted alley, Guyang Cheongang put on a human skin mask and pressed down a bamboo hat with strings.

With just that, he perfectly transformed from a sculpture-like handsome young master into an ordinary-looking man in his twenties wandering Gangho.

‘Miss Shangguan must be hurrying all preparations based on the business plan I presented. I need to join her as quickly as possible and begin in earnest the new business that will strangle Dong Hyeondo. Only then can I buy time for the Guyang Family Estate to establish a foundation for reconstruction.’

He called Akasha.

‘Akasha, find me the fastest route to the Imperial Capital.’

[Doctor, the shortest route analysis is complete.]

In less than 3 seconds, Akasha’s voice echoed in his mind, and a translucent holographic map unfolded in his mental image.

[The fastest and most comfortable route to the Imperial Capital is to use water transport via Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River to Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, then follow the Grand Canal northward from there. Using land routes instead of waterways would take nine more days. Which route would you choose?]

Guyang Cheongang gazed at the map and answered calmly.

‘What route would save time?’

[Combining both water and land routes. Using waterways to Nanjing, then taking land routes afterward. If you use lightness skills on land routes, you could reach the Imperial Capital in at most seventeen days.]

‘Good. Let’s go with combining water and land routes.’

[Understood. I’ll establish a travel plan optimized for the route.]

The distance from Nanchang to the Imperial Capital exceeded three thousand li.

For an ordinary person, it would be a long journey taking a full month and a half even when hurrying. But Guyang Cheongang planned to reduce this time to half a month.

It would be a forced march minimizing sleep time, constantly using movement techniques, replenishing energy with Yang Dragon Pills when exhausted, and recovering stamina through Energy Circulation and Breath Control.

It was an insane schedule that even decent martial artists wouldn’t dare attempt.

The early morning Nanchang dock was like a landscape painting.

Thick mist erased the boundary between river and sky like a gray curtain, swallowing all the world’s noise and color.

The masts of ships faintly emerging through the fog were as distant as scenery in a dream.

Guyang Cheongang, wearing a human skin mask and pressing down his bamboo hat, was moving among people to find a boat heading to Nanjing.

About half a hour had passed.

A low, gentle voice came from behind him.

“Hey there, young friend. Are you heading to Nanjing? There happens to be one spot left on a merchant ship I know – would you like to go together?”

When Guyang Cheongang turned around, there stood an extremely handsome man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, shrouded in faint mist.

An old hood and shabby long robe.

Though his appearance was humble, the aura flowing from the man’s entire body had a mysterious dignity that seemed not of this world.

Especially his eyes were an unfathomable abyss itself – containing everything yet completely empty.

[Doctor… this is strange.]

There was unprecedented tension in Akasha’s voice.

‘What is?’

[I can’t detect that person’s energy waves at all. Like a non-existent ghost, he’s not being caught by the nanobots’ sensors.]

This was the first time Akasha had said such a thing since awakening in this world, so Guyang Cheongang was inwardly quite surprised.

But the current him wasn’t naive enough to show his emotions outwardly.

He concealed his surprise and spoke with a respectful attitude.

“Thank you for letting me know. I’m called Hahou Gang. Who might you be, sir?”

Cheon Ungi smiled broadly and answered.

“Oh! So you’re Xiahou Young Master. I’m called Cheon Ungi. Just an idle wanderer roaming Gangho.”

Guyang Cheongang’s brow unconsciously narrowed slightly.

The other person was clearly smiling right in front of him, but his senses caught nothing.

Guyang Cheongang was seized by a distant feeling, as if looking into a deep lake whose bottom couldn’t be seen.

‘This is no ordinary person…’

[I’ll try investigating by infiltrating nanobots. Nanobot units 3…]

In less than a second, Akasha’s flustered voice continued.

[Doctor, the nanobots are being decomposed by an unknown energy field on his skin surface. This isn’t a martial arts defensive barrier like protective body energy. It’s closer to an annihilation zone that erases existence itself. This phenomenon doesn’t exist in my database. He… he’s defying the laws of physics as I know them.]

Guyang Cheongang felt cold sweat trickling down his spine.

‘The nanobots are being decomposed? Does someone exist in this world whom Akasha’s technology cannot affect?’

Until now, all his plans had heavily depended on Akasha’s abilities.

If her abilities were neutralized, a fundamental change in his approach to this world would be inevitable.

“What’s wrong, young friend?”

Cheon Ungi asked with a bright smile, as if something was quite amusing.

“It’s nothing. I just remembered something suddenly…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Why did Elder Brother Cheon suggest I accompany you?”

“There’s space left on the ship, and I thought it wouldn’t be boring to have a companion like Xiahou Young Master. The ship will depart soon, so what will you do?”

“Then I won’t decline.”

“Hehehe, good thinking.”

Cheon Ungi chuckled softly and walked toward the merchant ship.

Guyang Cheongang followed behind him as if entranced.

The Blue Dragon heading to Nanjing in Jiangsu Province was a fairly large merchant vessel.

On the deck, merchants and travelers from various places had boarded, each with their own stories.

After the ship departed and time passed, twilight arrived, painting the sky red.

Guyang Cheongang, who had been leaning against the deck railing facing the river breeze, turned to look at Cheon Ungi who had slowly approached and stood beside him.

Cheon Ungi, who had been gazing at the surface of Poyang Lake under the sunset, suddenly spoke.

“The more I see of Xiahou Young Master, the more fascinating and interesting you become.”

Guyang Cheongang furrowed his brow and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“It feels like two souls are living and breathing within one body.”

Guyang Cheongang was inwardly shocked to the point of being greatly alarmed.

It seemed like Cheon Ungi knew something.

‘That can’t be possible…’

Guyang Cheongang responded in a calm tone.

“Elder Brother Cheon, who says such things, is more interesting.”

“Hahahaha, I’m originally an interesting person.”

Cheon Ungi laughed heartily and continued.

“Just let it go in one ear and out the other. It’s just my feeling. And aren’t there one or two strange things in Gangho? When traveling, meeting peculiar people like you isn’t entirely uncommon.”

Cheon Ungi’s eyes deepened as he spoke.

Guyang Cheongang changed the subject.

“Where are you headed, Elder Brother Cheon? It doesn’t seem like Nanjing is your final destination.”

“Well… wherever the wind blows, wherever my feet take me… Would a final destination be appropriate for an idle wanderer with nothing to do?”

The Blue Dragon’s journey continued peacefully, and time passed like an arrow.

A few days later, except for the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance’s sailing ship collecting tolls, no particular incidents occurred.

The day before arriving at Nanjing’s harbor.

Cheon Ungi brought a wine bottle and led Guyang Cheongang to the deck.

“It’s the night before parting, so not having a drink wouldn’t be proper etiquette toward our connection.”

Guyang Cheongang, who had become quite close to him during this time, responded jokingly.

“Were we in a romantic relationship?”

“What a terrible thing to say! My preference for loving women is unwavering. Hahahaha.”

Cheon Ungi laughed heartily, took a sip straight from the bottle, and handed it to Guyang Cheongang.

Gulp- Gulp-

Guyang Cheongang unhesitatingly took the bottle and likewise drank a couple of sips straight from it.

Cheon Ungi suddenly asked.

“Xiahou Young Master, do you happen to know a place called Golden Tower Manor?”

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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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