Chapter 64

On the summit of Mount Chonmok, there were two things that could make one feel the grandeur of nature.

One was a large lake called Chonji.

The other was a single tree of immense size and beauty, incomparable to any other plant.

However, at that moment,

the Blue Divine Tree, which had stood firm without even a slight tremor for countless years, was shaking for some reason.

This was not the end of the strange occurrences.

Crack!

The base of the divine tree opened its mouth like a person, and soon a large hole appeared.

Then,

people began to emerge from the hole, one by one, starting with Yushinyun, followed by the members of Jeongwongak.

As soon as they emerged, they lifted their heads.

Instead of the familiar cave walls, they saw the sky, and they realized they had finally escaped from Manseongbi Cave.

At that moment, Jegalkun was the last to emerge. As soon as he came out, he expressed his dissatisfaction to Tangharin, who had gone before him.

"Ah! Why are you so slow, Miss Harin? Did you get your shoulder stuck in the hole?"

Thud!

"Ugh!"

Tangharin quickly answered with a punch.

Yushinyun ignored the bickering and immediately surveyed the surroundings.

The summit was shrouded in thick mist, like a sea of clouds. The dense fog, which barely allowed them to see in front of them, was a stroke of luck for them, as they needed to hide from the Green Forest Daoists of Chonmok Cai.

However, Yushinyun seemed dissatisfied with something.

At that moment, Jegalkun, with a sullen face, rubbed his abdomen and spoke.

"Hmm, it's a good thing. We should quickly bury the box and pull out some branches to return."

As Jegalkun finished speaking, a sense of relief spread across the faces of all the Jeongwongak members, as if a long journey was finally over.

But,

"…?"

"Sir, Guozhu?"

After a long time, their expressions changed to confusion as Yushinyun's command did not seem to end.

Ignoring the gazes of the Jeongwongak members, Yushinyun remained calm, as if waiting for someone, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon beyond the fog.

Whoosh!

At that moment, the fog and clouds surrounding the summit began to dissipate one by one. Soon, the sun shone brightly, revealing the summit in its entirety.

"…!"

Countless graves appeared wherever they looked. Small gravestones were also erected in front of each grave.

'This is!'

Jegalkun and Tangharin, who had been inspecting the gravestones, immediately stiffened.

These graves were not just for the Green Forest Daoists of Chonmok Cai.

They also included their parents, wives, and children.

This place was where the families of Chonmok Cai had been buried for generations.

Jegalkun, feeling uneasy, smacked his lips and, unlike his earlier boldness, cautiously spoke to Yushinyun.

"…Can we bury the box?"

Jegalkun was worried about offending the spirits that might be residing in the graves.

Yushinyun's response was brief.

"There's no need to."

Hearing that there was no need to bury the box, Jegalkun's face lit up.

"That's a wise decision! After all, how would the Heaven's Hall Master know whether we buried it or not? Well, then, let's just break off some branches from the divine tree and return…"

"There's no need to break off branches from the divine tree."

"…What?"

Yushinyun's words left not only Jegalkun but all the Jeongwongak members bewildered.

What did he mean?

Not to break off branches from the Blue Divine Tree?

Then, how would they prove to the Heaven's Hall Master that they had completed the mission?

The Jeongwongak members were thoroughly confused by the situation.

At that moment,

Yushinyun's body twitched, and he turned his gaze to Jegalkun, then quickly turned his head.

Jegalkun, following his lead, turned his head as well.

"Th-That, that!"

His eyes widened as he confirmed something, and he pointed to one side with a pale face.

There,

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Hundreds of martial artists were running towards them, the Green Forest Daoists of Chonmok Cai.

Sensing the danger, the Jeongwongak members hurriedly tried to escape through the hole in the divine tree, but

"O-Oh no!"

"…The hole is gone."

The hole in the divine tree was already sealed, leaving no place to run on the summit.

As everyone was at a loss, not knowing what to do,

'Finally, they're here.'

Yushinyun was inwardly rejoicing.

Part 2

'How…'

The Green Forest Daoists of Chonmok Cai, though they did not show it in front of the intruders, were all inwardly shocked.

And for good reason.

They had not come to this place to deal with intruders.

They had rushed here upon receiving a report of the sudden abnormality in the divine tree, only to unexpectedly find the intruders.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!"

At that moment, the leader of the Green Forest Daoists, Geuakdo (Gujue Dao) Daeguk, shouted loudly.

Clang! Clang!

All the Green Forest Daoists drew their weapons and quickly blocked their escape routes.

The Jeongwongak members, with tense expressions, also drew their weapons and faced them.

Only Yushinyun stood alone, not drawing his weapon, his eyes glowing with a mysterious light as he observed the enemies.

'Hmm! All of them are at the peak level or higher. About 40 are at the upper peak level. The one with the fan is probably at the supreme peak level.'

Yushinyun was assessing the strength of the enemies.

They were far stronger than any opponents he had faced so far. They were the best forces of the Green Forest Alliance, so it was to be expected.

Crack!

"Everyone, step back!"

At that moment, a man burst through the ranks of the bandits with a loud roar.

He appeared to be in his late forties, with a lean build and a refined appearance that one might mistake for a scholar.

'He's the one.'

Yushinyun immediately recognized him as the master of Chonmok Cai, Fengleishan Jun Donamgang.

Or rather, he couldn't help but recognize him.

The moment he appeared,

"Ugh!"

"Ah!"

The Jeongwongak members began to groan, unable to withstand the immense aura emanating from his body.

It was an overwhelmingly powerful and domineering aura, just as the rumors suggested.

Yushinyun's eyes sparkled.

'Is he at the initial stage of the Fire Realm? What an incredible presence.'

While Donamgang was rumored to be at the peak of the supreme level,

Yushinyun sensed that he had already reached the true realm of the Fire Realm.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

As Donamgang's aura grew stronger, making it difficult for the Jeongwongak members to even breathe, Yushinyun also began to release his own aura into the area.

Donamgang's aura and Yushinyun's aura clashed in the air.

At that moment, something unexpected happened, and Donamgang's expression changed.

'…That guy.'

He had expected a massive storm to be created by the clash, but the enemy's aura naturally enveloped his own, reversing the flow.

Only then did the Jeongwongak members' expressions slowly return to normal.

Tangharin, who had managed to regain her composure, was endlessly pondering one thing in her mind.

There was no possibility of winning the battle.

If they continued like this, they would all die.

'Should I reveal my identity?'

If she revealed that she was a member of the Secret Response Team, she could use the name of the Martial Arts Alliance to save their lives.

However, doing so would bring the dishonor of revealing her identity to survive the Green Forest Daoists.

Honor is more precious than life to a martial artist.

If she were alone, she would have chosen death.

At that moment, she saw Huangno, Marek, and Yushinyun.

'No, my honor is not more important than their lives.'

Just as she was about to step forward to reveal her identity,

Yushinyun took the initiative.

"I am Yushinyun, the leader of Baegunpyeong."

Yushinyun spoke with an incredibly confident attitude.

The Green Forest Daoists were incredulous at the mention of Baegunpyeong and Yushinyun.

Last night, no one had found any trace of the three fans, so they had all assumed that Yushinyun had either been killed by a beast or had returned to the Baegunpyeong.

They had no idea that their supposedly impregnable stronghold had been breached by Yushinyun and his team. No one could speak.

At that moment, Donamgang, noticing the box Jegalkun was holding, spoke in a nervous tone.

"Fortunately, we arrived before you could bury that disgusting box."

"Ah!"

Jegalkun was startled.

The box he was holding suddenly slipped from his grasp and flew into Donamgang's hand.

It was the moment when the ability to control objects in mid-air, which only those who had reached the Fire Realm could use, was demonstrated.

Donamgang, holding the box, spoke in a low voice.

"Your greed has led you to desecrate our sacred ground! You will pay with your lives."

As Donamgang finished speaking, all the Green Forest Daoists began to emit a thick killing intent.

At that moment,

"You, sir, are making a big mistake."

Yushinyun spoke with an incredibly relaxed attitude.

The Green Forest Daoists, who had been observing the situation, could no longer deny that Yushinyun was a remarkable figure, unlike the rumors.

"What do you mean by a mistake?"

"I did not come here to complete the mission for the Heaven's Hall Master."

"…What?"

"I came here to deliver a message to the Fan Master."

Yushinyun's words not only surprised Donamgang but also left the Jeongwongak members bewildered, as they realized he had a different purpose.

However, Donamgang soon spoke in a cold voice.

"Hah, what a joke. Do you think you can avoid this crisis with such words? Stop talking nonsense and draw your sword."

"Seems I have no choice."

In response to Donamgang's words, Yushinyun slowly drew his sword.

The air on the summit began to stir with the intense aura of the two men, who had unleashed their full strength.

Yushinyun, having reached his full potential, spoke his final words to Donamgang.

"Will you listen to my story, even a little, for every ten exchanges I survive?"

"Hmph, then I won't listen to a single word!"

Whoosh!

At that moment, the two figures vanished in a flash.

Boom! Boom!

A massive explosion shook the heavens and earth.