Chapter 171. Even If I Have to Paint Myself with Lacquer or Swallow Charcoal (17)

Chapter 171. Even If I Have to Paint Myself with Lacquer or Swallow Charcoal (17)

Spirit beasts and the likes cultivated by creating a neidan within their body, fostering it over the years just like how a martial artist cultivated qi in their dantian.

As the neidan grew, the spirituality of the beast grew stronger, and eventually, the beast would gain the opportunity to realize the Dao and become an immortal just like humans could.

Thus, spirit beasts were invariably reluctant to exert their neidan during battle. The more the power within a neidan was used, the longer it would take for a beast to reach the opportunity to ascend to immortality. Most would only do so when facing imminent death.

However, not only was the Golden-Horned Poison Serpent filled with rage and sorrow at losing one of its mates, but it also realized that it was facing a moment of life and death. Thus, with a feeling of desperation, it put everything on the line and used the power within its neidan to the fullest.

The Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's horn glowed brilliantly and slammed into Woo-Moon with a speed and force that was completely different from before.

BANG!

A terrifying explosion rang out as a deluge of blood fell to the ground.

Thud.

The Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's massive head crashed into the ground, severed from its body.

Woo-Moon had defended himself, casting the Impenetrable Golden Wall in the air with Lightflash before immediately switching to Golden Wall Severing Void to cut off the serpent’s head.

"Whew."

As he let out a sigh, Woo-Moon also tossed an ember of Samadhi True Flame, which spread and covered the Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's entire body.

Woosh!

The tremendous blaze incinerated the Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's body entirely, with only its golden horn remaining.

After cleaning things up, Woo-Moon quickly set off to catch up with Yu-Yu and Eun-Ah.

***

Du So-Heung and the other Kunlun Sect disciples silently followed Woo-Moon.

As it happened, Woo-Moon was also heading toward Mount Kunlun, so there was no need to worry about going their separate ways.

When they finally arrived in front of the mountain, Du So-Heung turned to Woo-Moon.

“Young Hero... do you mind if I ask you for your name?”

Du So-Heung felt very grateful to Woo-Moon.

There were many Kunlun Daoists who lived on the mountain, far away from the Central Plains and the secular world, detached from fame and fortune.

Characters like Ki Yeon-Oh and Yu Mun-Gwang were like the dregs that existed at the bottom of every barrel, and people like them who worried about reputation and power weren’t common in a detached place like the Kunlun Sect. That was precisely the reason they were so grateful to Woo-Moon and did not blame him in the slightest about the disgrace that would mar the sect’s reputation due to Ki Yeon-Oh's heinous actions.

Woo-Moon looked into Du So-Heung's eyes for a moment and then spoke calmly.

“My name is Song Woo-Moon.”

“I see, so it’s Song Woo... Hey, did you just say Song Woo-Moon?!”

“Wait, Song Woo-Moon? No, there’s no way...”

“The Undefeatable Sword Hero Song Woo-Moon!”[1]

The Undefeatable Sword Hero.

News had spread of the consecutive spars against the Hegemon Clan and his incredible feats in the war against the Black Bull Gang. The title of Undefeatable Sword Hero was given to Woo-Moon after the greatest of his known feats—decapitating the Lust Emperor.

Just like the other disciples, Du So-Heung also couldn't hide his surprise.

“Are you really the Undefeatable Sword Hero Song Woo-Moon? We all heard he was killed by the Heavenly Demon Cult at the Heavenly Demon Mound...”

There wasn't enough time right now to explain the entire idea of Martial Heaven to Du So-Heung. Moreover, this wasn’t something that these third-generation Kunlun Sect disciples, who were looking at him with bright eyes, needed to know at this point.

It was best to inform only the sect master and the elders of the Kunlun Sect about Martial Heaven and his plan to attack the Cruel Sandstorm Riders. The rest of the sect members could learn about it on the day of battle.

Thus, Woo-Moon just responded with a calm smile, “Yes, it’s true that I fell into the Heavenly Demon Cult’s trap and was on the verge of death. However, thanks to my grandfather’s sacrifice, I was able to survive, and after healing my wounds, I’m now back in the murim.”

At Woo-Moon's words, Du So-Heung burst out in anger.

“Hmph! Those demons of the wicked Heavenly Demon Cult! They’ve become even more sinister than before. In the past, they only tried to conquer through force and refused to use such trickery.”

It made perfect sense for Du So-Heung to respond in this manner.

Although Yu Yu wasn’t very talented originally, her intellect grew and her body became more suitable for martial training after Woo-Moon reformed her body. She was learning martial arts as quickly as cotton absorbed water.

Woo-Moon was teaching her the Swordplay of the Carefree Goddess, the sword art that Sang-Woon had taught Si-Hyeon. Now that the only two other people who knew the art were gone, if Woo-Moon didn’t find a proper heir for it, the art would completely disappear from this world.

It was poetic, almost like fate, that the sole inheritor of the Swordplay of the Carefree Goddess would be named Yu Yu.[2]

After some time had passed, Du So-Heung approached Woo-Moon.

“We’re ready to keep going now. Would that be okay?”

Woo-Moon nodded.

“Yes, let’s go.”

“The road to the Kunlun Sect is steep and has many forks. Please allow me to take the lead.”

“Understood.

After trekking up the mountain for a while, the group finally arrived at the Kunlun Sect.

“Junior Sect Uncle! You’re back!”

“Hey, why do you all seem... what?! Isn’t that Junior Sect Uncle Ki Yeon-Oh? How was he injured so severely?”

The disciples on the main mountain were still unaware of what Ki Yeon-Oh had done.

Du So-Heung looked coldly at the disciples floundering about and gossiping without bothering to read the room.

“Don’t concern yourselves with this. Just go and announce that a very important guest has arrived. Moreover, call the sect elders over, as I have something to say about Yeon-Oh.”

“Understood.”

From Du So-Heung’s tone, even the dullest of the disciples understood that something major had happened. They immediately shut up and dispersed.

Du So-Heung no longer called Ki Yeon-Oh “senior brother” anymore.

The two disciples guarding the main gate quickly rushed inside. Woo-Moon waited with Du So-Heung for a moment before crossing through the gate into the Kunlun Sect.

Within just a few moments, almost all of the Kunlun Sect’s disciples gathered, their eyes focused on Woo-Moon and Du So-Heung, as well as Ki Yeon-Oh, who was being carried behind them like a dead fish.

As the Kunlun Sect disciples murmured among themselves, one of the elders came forward. He was Du So-Heung and Ki Yeon-Oh’s junior sect uncle.

“So-Heung, what happened?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Du So-Heung explained everything about Ki Yeon-Oh’s deeds.

“WHAT?! Just how!”

“How could this happen to our Kunlun Sect?!”

The sighs of the elders echoed endlessly as the disciples all forgot their previous gossip and were now just staring in utter shock.

“So that’s what happened, So-Heung. Okay, there’s no reason for you to lie. But, who is that young man standing over there?”

Before Du So-Heung could explain, Woo-Moon stepped forward and cupped his fist.

“My name is Song Woo-Moon.”

The murmurs returned with even more impetus at Woo-Moon’s introduction.

“The Undefeatable Sword Hero? Is he really that Song Woo-Moon?”

This time, Du So-Heung responded to the question.

“Yes, that’s right. This young man is the famed Undefeated Sword Hero, who was rumored to be dead. He is the one who stopped Ki Yeon-Oh’s despicable plan and made it known to us.”

What Ki Yeon-Oh had done could only be described in one word: abominable. And given that he was a high-ranking member of the Kunlun Sect, a first-generation disciple, the shock felt by all of the disciples was even more significant.

As he stood to the side, Woo-Moon looked for Jin Won-Myeong and Do-Ah. However, to his disappointment, they were nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, the sect master summoned the elders for a meeting.

1. No, this is not the title. It’s just one word off though. ☜

2. The word Carefree is read as Yu Yu. So, the sword technique could also be read as the Swordplay of the Goddess Yu Yu. ☜