Chapter 181
It wasn’t difficult for Sun Woo-jin and his group to reach Aenoe Mountain.
Since they began their stealthy journey, they hadn’t encountered a single demon for half a day. Before long, through the dense foliage, they spotted a towering mountain rising majestically.
Aenoe Mountain, standing tall in the heart of the jungle, was immense and mysterious.
Countless jagged peaks pierced the sky, their upper reaches shrouded in clouds, making it impossible to see their true heights.
This was none other than Aenoe Mountain, the greatest mountain in Yunnan—the very place where the infamous Muhwang Massacre had occurred over a decade ago.
“That’s Aenoe Mountain,” someone murmured.
As the group paused to take in the sight, Mukrang suddenly spoke up.
“Seeing Aenoe Mountain again after so long… it brings back memories. Thanks for that.”
“Have you been here before, sir?” Sun Woo-jin asked.
“Ah, yes. I came here once when I fought the Blood Demons back in my day. It was a dreadful place. The terrain was harsh, valleys deep, and those peaks—damn near impossible to climb. The cliffs between those jagged spires you see are sheer drops hundreds of feet deep. It was a mountain fit for the Blood Cult’s scoundrels.”
Sun Woo-jin couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at that.
“Memories” seemed like an odd word to describe such a grim experience.
“Not exactly the kind of memories one would cherish, I suppose?”
Mukrang replied with a cheerful tone.
“No, they are memories. That grueling battle with those relentless fiends was the last fight we all fought together—brothers, friends, even the children. After that, there was no enemy left that required all of us to unite.”
Sun Woo-jin fell silent, struck by the weight of those words.
He hadn’t considered that Mukrang must have had family and comrades back then.
Mukrang still had his memories and reason, but after a hundred years, with no acquaintances left alive, what must it feel like to return to a place so steeped in the past?
Sun Woo-jin couldn’t even begin to imagine.
Yet Mukrang’s upbeat voice broke the silence, offering comfort instead.
“No need to dwell on that. Thanks to it, I’ve found a new comrade in you, and we’re making new memories together. No matter how fond the past, can it ever match the excitement of the memories we’re creating now? Ha ha ha!”
Sun Woo-jin smiled again.
He marveled at how someone once hailed as the greatest in the world—and perhaps even the greatest of all time—could be so down-to-earth and jovial.
Maybe it was that very nature that had allowed him to reach the pinnacle of power.
Who could say?
The Sword Saint continued in his cheerful tone.
“And besides… I hold you in very high regard. I believe you might be the one to inherit the true sword techniques of my master—techniques I couldn’t pass on to anyone back then. Finding someone with your talent and character was impossible, even for me, who has lived longer than most of those around me.”
Hearing this, Sun Woo-jin felt his heart race.
Mukrang had once told him that his genuine sword art was hidden in a certain place, arranged so that only those who passed the sword trial could inherit it.
That meant even the Mukrang Sword Style, which Sun Woo-jin had thought was the ultimate technique, wasn’t the true pinnacle.
And now, he might be the one to carry on the Sword Saint’s true legacy.
With a hopeful heart, Sun Woo-jin said, “Once things settle down, I will definitely seek out that place.”
“Good. For now, mastering the Mukrang Sword Style is the priority. But somehow, I have a feeling we might need to get there sooner than expected. Of course, that’s probably just the intuition of a dead man, ha ha ha!”
Mukrang laughed heartily.
Then, suddenly, he asked, “By the way, Aenoe Mountain is vast. Do you know where Muhwang Massacre took place within it?”
Sun Woo-jin answered with a bitter smile.
“No, I don’t. That’s my biggest concern. I’m planning to trace back where the demons came from, but I’m not sure how well that will work.”
Mukrang’s voice brightened with excitement.
“Then let me help. I’ve seen this mountain’s terrain so many times, I can probably guess where something like that might be hidden. And Muhwang Massacre… it doesn’t quite smell like the Blood Cult’s doing.”
“Smell?” Sun Woo-jin asked, curious.
“Something like that. I’ll tell you once I’m sure.”
After that, Sun Woo-jin urged the group onward.
Aenoe Mountain, which had seemed distant and tall, now loomed even larger before them.
Then, suddenly, Sun Woo-jin sensed something and quickly signaled the group to halt.
He sent a silent message.
“Minimize all signs of presence!”
Normally, he would have sent this to Seolpung first, but it wasn’t necessary.
Seolpung had already stopped and gone into hiding alongside him.
Sun Woo-jin nodded at Seolpung and immediately sent the message to Bisa-young and Dakam.
In a brief moment, all of them raised their thumbs to acknowledge receipt and slipped into concealment.
Only Sun Woo-jin and Seolpung knew the reason behind this sudden caution.
Just as Jeungchil was about to send a message asking what was going on, Seolpung beat him to it.
“There’s an incredibly powerful expert ahead. At least ultra-advanced level. Jin-ui estimates they might be a Thirty-Six Star of the Martial World.”
Jeungchil frowned deeply.
A Thirty-Six Star expert?
Who was he to make such a judgment?
And if it really was a Thirty-Six Star, that was even more troubling.
It meant they had detected such a formidable presence before their opponent even noticed them.
How was that possible?
Just as Jeungchil was about to voice his doubts to Sun Woo-jin, a message came from him first.
“I imagine you have many questions, so I’ll explain in advance. I once encountered Am Hyeolhyang. Compared to him, this presence feels similar. Also, I’ve been training under Seolpung’s guidance to detect enemies through heightened senses on the battlefield. So my senses are sharper than usual. Please understand it that way.”
Jeungchil was left speechless.
It was as if Sun Woo-jin had anticipated his objections and answered them all beforehand.
He felt a bit insulted.
It was like this young upstart had read his mind.
And the fact that Sun Woo-jin had singled him out to explain everything via silent message rubbed him the wrong way.
No matter how talented Jeungchil was, feeling like a puppet in the hands of a green junior was anything but pleasant for his rebellious nature.
So, with a scoff, he sneered.
“Hmph! You met Am Hyeolhyang? Are you trying to say you survived being his target? The one who never fails a contract, who always eliminates his mark? If that’s true, then how are you still alive? Did Am Hyeolhyang go easy on you or something?”
But the reply that came back from Sun Woo-jin almost made Jeungchil shout aloud.
He had answered simply:
“Am Hyeolhyang is dead. That’s why he couldn’t kill me.”
Jeungchil was stunned.
He couldn’t even respond.
Am Hyeolhyang—the king of assassins—dead?
And from the sound of it, Sun Woo-jin had killed him?
That was absurd.
Jeungchil’s frown deepened, but when their eyes met, he swallowed the words that had nearly escaped his mouth.
Sun Woo-jin’s steady gaze said it all: this was the truth, and it was best not to question it further.
The coldness in that look was unlike anything Jeungchil had seen before, and he involuntarily swallowed hard.
At that moment, Sun Woo-jin was using the “Hyunwol” technique from the Moonlight Sword Dance to amplify his senses.
After his battle with Am Hyeolhyang, he had finally mastered Hyunwol without strain.
So it was no wonder Jeungchil felt something different about him.
Moments later, Sun Woo-jin realized that the ultra-powerful expert had passed by without detecting them.
He exchanged a nod with Seolpung and sent messages to Bisa-young and Dakam.
“They’ve passed. Situation lifted.”
The group resumed their march toward Aenoe Mountain.
Jeungchil watched Sun Woo-jin and Seolpung’s backs carefully, his gaze sharp.
He took a small sip from the bottle of So-bongju he’d been rationing.
gulp
He had to admit that these young ones had senses sharper than his own.
After all, he’d witnessed them detect things he couldn’t.
But being more sensitive than a Thirty-Six Star expert was another matter entirely.
That meant they might even surpass Yang Moon-heon, the White Crane Elder Sword, the only martial artist Jeungchil truly respected.
And the fact that they might have killed Am Hyeolhyang…
“I need to have a serious talk with that kid when there’s time.”
A sudden thought crossed his mind: perhaps he was traveling alongside future legends of the martial world.
Of course, Jeungchil, the rebel, immediately dismissed the idea.
“Hmph! Legends, my foot! They’re still just rookies!”
After setting out again, half a day later, the group finally reached the foothills of Aenoe Mountain.
Pausing briefly, Sun Woojin observed the general direction the demons were moving in. Then, as if guided by instinct, he began leading the others somewhere.
Though no one else knew it, he was currently being guided by Mukrang.
“Judging by the demons’ movement, I think it’s probably Gwiso Valley.”
“Gwiso Valley?”
“That’s the name we gave it back then. It’s a valley surrounded by sheer cliffs a thousand feet high. The wind that passes through sounds like ghostly laughter, so we called it that. There was a troublesome Blood Sect sorcerer who once hid in a cave there, and it took us quite a while to catch him. That was a hundred years ago, so maybe…”
“Hmm.”
It seemed a stretch to believe that a simple cave from a century ago had now become the Muwhang Tomb.
Still, Sun Woojin decided to check it out first.
With nothing concrete to go on, he figured it was worth investigating any lead, no matter how slim.
But as he followed Mukrang’s directions without much hope, he suddenly realized they were heading exactly opposite to the demons’ usual path.
That meant the direction was right.
Excited, Sun Woojin called out to Mukrang.
“Sir!”
“Yes. Even if it’s not exactly there, it seems we’ve got the right direction.”
A short while later, they arrived at the hidden valley surrounded by thousand-foot cliffs.
The very Gwiso Valley Mukrang had mentioned.
Sun Woojin warned the group to be extra cautious, then slowly infiltrated deeper.
Soon, they found it.
A cave guarded not by demons, but by Blood Sect sorcerers—six of them, all clearly formidable.
This had to be the place.
They had found their target immediately upon arrival.
Clenching his fist, Sun Woojin silently thanked Mukrang.
“Sir! We found it! Thanks to you!”
“I’m glad I could help.”
Suppressing his excitement, Sun Woojin carefully examined the cave and its surroundings.
It seemed the demons didn’t always emerge from the cave; currently, only six sorcerers of peak or higher level stood guard.
Unfortunately, there was no opening to slip through.
To get inside, they’d have to deal with those six first.
His heart raced at the thought of comrades possibly held captive inside.
“If we take out those guys quickly and get in…”
But as the thought crossed his mind, he shook his head.
If this place was important to the Blood Sect, those six guards couldn’t be the real problem.
If they stationed peak-level sorcerers as sentries, then inside there must be even stronger ones—perhaps ultra-peak level.
If luck was against them, maybe even a top-tier master of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars.
The master they sensed earlier seemed to be moving away, but there was no guarantee no others remained.
“So unless we have an absolute powerhouse like Sword Saint Sir, charging in head-on is impossible.”
Maybe even the Sword Saint wouldn’t stand a chance.
Sun Woojin suddenly asked Mukrang.
“Sir, sorry to ask, but is there any other way in? A hidden path or detour?”
This time, Mukrang couldn’t help.
“Hmm, at least back then, we didn’t find any. Sorry. But your caution about not entering head-on is wise. Trying that without intel is reckless.”
Reluctantly, Sun Woojin signaled the group to fall back.
They needed to gather opinions and think this through.
Besides, they couldn’t bring Dakam along anymore.
Once safely withdrawn to a secluded rocky crevice, Jeungchil finally whispered aloud, unable to hold back.
“How on earth did you find this place?! Did you already know where the Muwhang Tomb was?”
Jeungchil had thought it nearly impossible to find a Blood Sect hideout in a massive mountain like Aenoe.
The Muwhang Tomb was only discovered because the map was leaked; before that, no one even knew it existed.
Yet this parasite-looking guy had just observed the demons’ movements a bit and, as if it were second nature, led them straight to the target.
Jeungchil couldn’t fathom how that was possible.
Sun Woojin quickly scanned for any nearby presence, then gave an awkward smile.
“I have a good intuition. And I guess I was lucky this time.”
Jeungchil wanted to scold him for speaking out loud without consulting others, but with this cantankerous old man, it probably wouldn’t help.
If anything, it might be better not to anger him.
Besides, they had confirmed no other sorcerers were nearby.
Still, Jeungchil snapped in frustration.
“You expect me to believe that? That you just ‘felt’ your way there on a whim? What, are you some kind of shaman now?!”
Bisa Young clicked his tongue and cut in.
“Tsk, Sasuk. Jin once saved someone after receiving a revelation from an immortal in a dream. So don’t waste time questioning whether it makes sense. Just follow him when he says go.”
“What? What? An immortal appeared in a dream?”
Jeungchil was about to snap at Bisa Young for mocking him, but when he saw Seolpung nodding seriously, he was left speechless.
He already knew Seolpung wasn’t one to spout nonsense.
At that moment, Sun Woojin hurriedly changed the subject.
“Alright, that’s not what we need to worry about now.”
He explained the current situation and his concerns to the group.
Jeungchil scoffed, as if it were no big deal.
“Hmph! With me and you guys, we could storm any martial sect head-on! What’s the problem?”
Sun Woojin sighed and shook his head.
“It’s impossible. There might be Blood Demons or Blood Sect Overlords inside. Plus, countless sorcerers above peak level. Charging in would make fighting them impossible, and rescuing our comrades even more so.”
Bisa Young suggested.
“How about using the method we tried with the Amipa sect in Sichuan? Most Blood Sect guys are lecherous, so we could use a honey trap. Jin, you could disguise yourself with the Bone Crushing Technique, and we have the Yunhyang here too.”
“Hmm.”
Disguising and luring the guards—that was at least a practical approach.
But since they didn’t know who was inside, it was still risky.
And unlike last time, there was no chance for a detour team to infiltrate.
‘What if we use a honey trap to lure the guards outside? Then we could gather intel from inside.’
Still not a safe plan.
If the guards noticed their absence, security might tighten.
But if they could get information from inside, the risk might be worth it.
Though uneasy, Sun Woojin realized they had no better choice.
Then, suddenly, his senses picked up movement.
“Huh?!”
He locked eyes with Seolpung, who spoke first.
“Looks like demons. They’re coming this way.”
“Yes, but they don’t seem to be targeting us.”
“I think so too. But given their direction, they’ll be here soon. Should we move?”
A group of demons seemed to be rushing over, causing a commotion for some reason.
They didn’t seem to be after the group, so hiding might suffice.
But to avoid unnecessary trouble, moving seemed wiser.
Then Sun Woojin had an idea.
“Jojang and I will go check it out. The rest, please watch over Dakam here…”
Jeungchil immediately raised his hand.
“I’m coming too! I’m coming!”
Sun Woojin gave a wry smile and nodded.
“Alright, senior. We’ll move stealthily.”
The three melted into shadows, moving like ghosts.
Moments later, their eyes fell upon a sight they never could have expected.