The Great Heavenly Sword Emperor - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#086. Lingering Echo (1)

The hermitage stood not far from where Cheon Mujgyeol had encountered Hwanryeong.
Bukgung Danya, who had hurried Cheon Mujgyeol to the empty hermitage, gazed down at him lying unconscious, his expression heavy with concern.
“Well… thank heavens it’s no worse than this.”
Standing beside Bukgung Danya with equal worry etched across his face was, surprisingly, Gwang-an.
After leaving the village where he’d traced Jinryeong’s presence, Cheon Mujgyeol had contacted Bohyeonsa to request an investigation into the place.
Gwang-an had been on his way to deliver those findings when he arrived—the battle with Hwanryeong was already over.
Thanks to his timely arrival, they’d been able to locate this hermitage quickly and move Cheon Mujgyeol here.
“Shouldn’t we move him to a physician?”
At Bukgung Danya’s question, Gwang-an released a measured sigh.
“Ideally, yes. But Cheon Mujgyeol is not what he once was. Should word spread that he’s been struck down and lost consciousness from an attack, the mere rumor could sow terror among the people. For now, I’ve already sent word to Yu Baekhhyeon at the medical center—let’s wait a little longer and trust in Cheon Mujgyeol’s martial prowess.”
Bukgung Danya exhaled softly at Gwang-an’s words.
Then he gazed quietly at the wound across Cheon Mujgyeol’s chest.
‘Cheon Mujgyeol couldn’t do anything.’
That’s what Hwanryeong had said before landing his final blow.
That he had corrupted Cheon Mujgyeol’s senses.
That Cheon Mujgyeol’s various perceptions had begun to distort.
As evidence, there had been several moments when Cheon Mujgyeol suddenly thrust his blade in completely wrong directions.
Bukgung Danya believed it wasn’t simply that Hwanryeong was stronger, but that Cheon Mujgyeol’s corrupted senses had left him defenseless.
Even so.
Hwanryeong had closed the distance at invisible speed, driving two fans in rapid succession into Cheon Mujgyeol’s chest.
Moreover, he possessed enough force to send Cheon Mujgyeol’s body hurtling through the air.
“I suppose the pursuit of Hwanryeong… failed as well?”
“It did. When someone moves, they should disturb something and leave traces—but there was nothing. As if he’d taken flight.”
At Gwang-an’s reply, Bukgung Danya nodded slowly.
When he appeared and when he vanished.
True to his name, Hwanryeong was a man who simply materialized and then simply disappeared.
Pursuit was hardly feasible.
“Did Hwanryeong say anything—anything that might serve as a clue?”
At Gwang-an’s question, Bukgung Danya turned over his words in his mind.

* * *

“Cheon Mujgyeol!”
Immediately after Cheon Mujgyeol fell, Bukgung Danya cried out in alarm and rushed toward him.
Hwanryeong, who had been watching silently, left Bukgung Danya with a single message before vanishing.
“Tell him when he wakes—if he wakes. Don’t presume to overstep. Simply deliver the Cheonsingeom to us quietly whenever we ask, and all will be well.”

* * *

“The Cheonsingeom. So they need it as well.”
Gwang-an nodded, turning the words over several times in his mind.
“When I first met Cheon Mujgyeol, he told me about the day he emerged from Cheongeomjang. The Ghostvalley assassins he encountered then spoke of ‘retrieving the Cheonsingeom.'”
“Retrieving.”
“Yes. At first, I didn’t understand the significance of that word, but now I see it. The Saryeonggyo must need the Cheonsingeom for some reason as well.”
“Then why didn’t Hwanryeong take the Cheonsingeom with him? He’d defeated Cheon Mujgyeol—he could have taken it easily.”
If Saryeonggyo needed the Cheonsingeom, that moment after defeating Cheon Mujgyeol would have been the perfect opportunity to retrieve it.
Yet Hwanryeong had simply vanished instead.
Moreover, he’d demanded that Cheon Mujgyeol bring the Cheonsingeom himself.
It was behavior and speech that defied understanding.
“I’ve heard that the Cheonsingeom cannot be handled by just anyone. Perhaps that’s why.”
“That’s plausible. For now, it’s our most viable hypothesis.”
Gwang-an nodded in agreement with Bukgung Danya’s words.
“So we’ve learned they need time and the Cheonsingeom. But what they’re preparing… that remains unclear.”
“What concerns me more is their strength. If a single one of them like Hwanryeong is this formidable, and there are supposedly seven of them in total…”
“I see… so that’s the concern. Seven individuals with such formidable power that even the Young Lord of Cheon can fall to them.”
Gwang-an’s expression darkened.
With the Dongbang Sega, there was at least the possibility that Cheon Mujgyeol could truly prevail.
But Saryeonggyo was different.
Especially seeing Cheon Mujgyeol lying unconscious, victory seemed far from certain.
Both men found themselves sighing more deeply.

* * *

Yu Baekhhyeon, upon receiving word from Gwang-an, dropped everything and rushed over.
Though he had come from a distance and it took considerable time to arrive, Cheon Mujgyeol remained unconscious even then.
Yu Baekhhyeon had not imagined Cheon Mujgyeol would lose consciousness for so long, and the shock he received was greater than expected.
After gathering himself, Yu Baekhhyeon examined Cheon Mujgyeol’s condition and exhaled in relief.
“What is his state?”
“Not as dangerous as one might think. His recovery is progressing well. It seems the sudden nature of the incident dealt both a physical and psychological shock.”
“Psychological.”
“This is the Young Lord’s first defeat since entering the Gangho. And it was no ordinary defeat.”
“That’s right. He didn’t even have the chance to properly use his hands.”
At Bukgung Danya’s words, Yu Baekhhyeon’s expression hardened.
He had anticipated a shocking defeat, but he had not imagined it would be to such a degree.
“I see. Then I understand all the more.”
“So we must simply wait like this?”
“There is no treatment method at this time. Or rather, there is no need for treatment. All we can do is wait until the Young Lord opens his eyes of his own accord.”
At Yu Baekhhyeon’s words, Bukgung Danya gazed at Cheon Mujgyeol with a look of regret.

* * *

A vast and desolate wasteland.
Cheon Mujgyeol stood there.
And facing him stood an unfamiliar old man.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve met like this.”
The voice flowing from the old man’s lips was familiar.
The voice of Cheonsingeom, whom Cheon Mujgyeol heard so often.
The old man standing before Cheon Mujgyeol was Cheongeom Daeje.
“Is Saryeonggyo truly this strong?”
“Yes. Saryeonggyo is strong.”
Cheon Mujgyeol quietly regarded Cheongeom Daeje, who answered so readily.
“Is there something you haven’t told me, but that I should know?”
“What you need to know now is not about Saryeonggyo.”
“Then what?”
“Your own strength.”
“My own strength.”
“Yes. Without Saryeonggyo, you could say you’ve already reached the peak of the Gangho with your current abilities. But with Saryeonggyo in the picture, things are different.”
“If I fill in my shortcomings, can I defeat Saryeonggyo?”
“If I tell you that you cannot win even after filling them, would you abandon the attempt?”
At Cheongeom Daeje’s question, Cheon Mujgyeol found himself at a loss for words.
“Time is scarce now. Yet it is also sufficient.”
“Sufficient?”
“Yes. You must at least reach the point where you can deploy the Final Three Forms perfectly, should you not?”
That was true.
Cheon Mujgyeol was still incomplete.
Had he been able to properly deploy the Final Three Forms in his battle with Dongbang Cheonbaek, he might have finished it faster and in better condition.
If that had been the case, Dongbang Cheonbaek might not have died.
“You have not yet reached Gwii-il, the fourth level among the five stages of the Cheonheo Mugeuk Heart Method. You stand at the edge of the third stage, Mugeuk.”
“Gwii-il.”
“Yes. You still have the realms of Gwii-il and Taeheo to ascend to. Once you reach Gwii-il, you will be able to deploy two of the Final Three Forms perfectly.”
“Even at the Gwii-il level, Taeheo Myeolcheon would still be impossible?”
Taeheo Myeolcheon—the final technique of the Cheonmyeol Sibi Geom.
Cheon Mujgyeol knew only its form and the principle of the technique, but could not yet deploy it.
“Not impossible. But it would be like the way you now imperfectly deploy Musang Gwii-il, the tenth technique. You could deploy it, but it would lack true power and place considerable burden on you.”
“The road ahead is long.”
“The path of martial study has no end. Even if one strives until death, there are depths one can never reach. That is the nature of martial study.”
At the Cheongeom Daeje’s words, Cheon Mujgyeol nodded.
Something shifted in the Cheongeom Daeje’s expression.
Where moments before there had been the solemn dignity of a master imparting wisdom, now there was the warmth of a grandfather gazing upon a grandson separated by generations.
“The failures I left unresolved in my past have become a great burden for you in this age. I am sorry.”
At the Cheongeom Daeje’s words, Cheon Mujgyeol shook his head.
“That is not how I see it. I do not think that way at all.”
At Cheon Mujgyeol’s answer, pride bloomed across the Cheongeom Daeje’s face.
“Then begin at once. There is nothing more I can teach you. Everything you must learn yourself.”
Cheon Mujgyeol nodded at the Cheongeom Daeje’s words.
“It will seem overwhelming. But in this short time, you have gathered much experience. That experience will become the force that carries you to the next realm.”
As the Cheongeom Daeje spoke, Cheon Mujgyeol crossed his legs in the center of the Wasteland, closed his eyes, and sat in meditation.
Now, it was only his struggle with himself.

* * *

Just as Hwanryeong had told Jinryeong, Cheon Mujgyeol did not wake for over a month and a half.
In that time, many things changed.
Since Cheon Mujgyeol could not remain indefinitely at the Hermitage, his lodging was moved with the help of Gwang-an and the Dongbang Sega.
The Bohyeonsa had integrated the Jandeugunghoe’s intelligence network, and with the support of the Dongbang Sega’s information apparatus, it was marshaling all efforts to gather intelligence on the Saryeonggyo.
Furthermore, the Dongbang Sega’s stabilization was proceeding well, and at present flowed with considerable order.
The relationship between the Five Dharma Protectors and the Council of Elders had not dramatically shifted, but there was scarcely any discord in the day-to-day governance of the Sega.
Everything flowed according to its natural course, yet only Cheon Mujgyeol remained suspended in that moment, that hour.

Since Cheon Mujgyeol lost consciousness, all conversations with Gwang-an had fallen to Bukgung Danya to handle.
“I had no idea he could vanish so completely. Where in the world is he holed up?”
At Bukgung Danya’s words, Gwang-an nodded with a grim expression.
“There are many ways to hide, but even accounting for that, our investigation turns up nothing. Then again, that is precisely how he has been able to gather strength all this time without a trace.”
At Gwang-an’s words, Bukgung Danya exhaled slowly.
“Has the young master awakened yet?”
At Gwang-an’s question, Bukgung Danya answered only with a shake of his head.
“That is its own cause for worry. He ought to wake soon.”
“Indeed. Still, difficult as it is, please continue your investigation.”
“Of course.”
With their conversation ended, Gwang-an departed hastily, and Bukgung Danya headed toward the room where Cheon Mujgyeol lay.
“What in the world are you preparing, Saryeonggyo?”
Bukgung Danya murmured thus as he opened the door to the room where Cheon Mujgyeol slept.
“What?!”
The moment the door opened, Bukgung Danya started.
Cheon Mujgyeol was rising from his bed and changing into fresh clothes he had prepared in advance.
“Young master!”
Bukgung Danya cried out with delight, and Cheon Mujgyeol turned to him and spoke.
“It has been a while.”

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