Chapter 30. Cho Ryu Hyangs Challenge

The Book of Mountains and Seas was the compilation of all the information from the Chinese myths and stories. In it, one could find information on the Imugi.

But even in a book like that, there lay no information about a red horned, black scaled Imugi, many times bigger than normal. Even the Guangya (), which rivals the Book of Mountains and Seas, contained no information on that type of an Imugi.

A black scaled Imugi with red horns. It was a strange existence that had never been seen in the world until now.

This shouldnt be possible.

Cho Ryu Hyang sorted his thoughts as he clambered up the mountain.

A formation was something created by man by bending the laws of nature to his will. Since it is not something made by god, living beings can not survive in a formation for long.

But his teacher saw something alive. It didnt matter whether it was a dragon or an Imugi. The fact that something lived inside a formation was amazing in itself already.

He climbed higher as he thought that, and reached a place that had strange stones arranged all over the place. Cho Ryu Hyang approached one, and observed it carefully. From the shadows, there was someone watching him do all this.

Dammit. Dammit!

Ju Sang San.

He served as one of the eight guardians of the church, and was also known as the Blood Sound Demon in the martial world. He was a fearsome man.

A person like that, was currently buried in the ground with only his head poking out. He was observing Cho Ryu Hyangs every move.

Do we really have to go this far?

This really wasnt something to be happy about, the Pope selecting him. He didnt know why, but the Pope told him to not get within 900 meters of the boy.

But that wasnt all.

To think hed make me use a third-rate technique like this.

Burrowing (: A technique to move faster in the ground).

Ju Sang San felt despondent. He had to crawl along the ground like his life depended on it, in order to use this technique. Ju Sang San had even reconsidered taking the mission, taking into account the shameful position he would have to take.

But whose order was it? The Popes orders were absolute. Plus, was he not serving the Popes first disciple right now?

This mission was something to be proud of. There was nothing shameful about this at all.

For the church.

Ju Sang San strengthened his weakening resolve, and wiped sweat off his face. He became as quiet as possible, and observed the young man in front of him.

This is.

He knew what the symbols on the stone meant. They were mathematical symbols that were in use a long time ago. Those symbols were interlaced to look like a beautiful pattern etched onto stone. Cho Ryu Hyang had no idea how they were made, but the symbols were glowing.

Cho Ryu Hyang calmly began to translate the symbols. He soon realized that they were not as hard as he had first thought. They were not in much use in this day and age, but as long as you knew them, translating them was not hard at all.

Cho Ryu Hyangs eyes brightened once he finished translating a part of the symbols.

This is a language.

Someone, someone from the past, created a language using mathematics, and had done so using a way that was very similar to his teachers method..

Since he already knew something like this before, he didnt encounter too much trouble. Once he realized what it all was, everything became easy. He could instantly translate everything else that was written on the stone column.

An Imugi.

Stones such as these often talked of things like the Imugi. A snake that failed to transform into a dragon. That was an Imugi. Formations are usually described using metaphors, but apparently, this time it was not so.

Cho Ryu Hyang paused at the last sentence. There was something in the last sentence of the column that caught his attention.

Only a person holding the dragon ball can go in?

(TL: I thought using the word Cintamani would be a bit weird, so I substituted with the next best thing.)

When Cho Ryu Hyang thought that, he heard someone laughing in his mind.

Zhuge Liang. He was laughing.

What is it?

Zhuge Liang didnt respond immediately to Cho Ryu Hyangs question. But the old man did seem very amused.

[Greenhorn, I now understand why you are so talented in Math.]

The reason he was talented? What did that mean? When Cho Ryu Hyang put on a confused expression, Zhuge Liang spoke.

[The answer just comes to you once you contemplate on a problem for a long time. Greenhorn, thats probably your biggest advantage.]

Zhuge Liang paused, and then spoke whilst gazing affectionately at the stone in front of Cho Ryu Hyang.

[A human life really is unpredictable. That is why it is so amusing.]

Now, what did that mean? Cho Ryu Hyang was waiting for an answer, but Zhuge Liang did not continue.

He simply stared at the stone for a long time, and then spoke with a faint smile.

[There are times where the old triumphs over the new. I really like it when that happens.]

This too, was not really understandable. While Cho Ryu Hyang was confused, Zhuge Liang stared at him and said,

[Greenhorn, it seems that you were destined to come here. So dont mull over useless things, and enter.]

Cho Ryu Hyang realized something.

Does the elder know about this place? Zhuge Liang didnt respond. He just fingered his feathered fan, and smiled. Cho Ryu Hyang was convinced that the old man knew something, but he did not press further.

I have to go in anyway.

Zhuge Liang. The old mans words were right. No matter how much he thought about the formation, the answer wouldnt come to him. He had to go into the formation, and find the answer for himself.

I was being a cowardly bird.

A bird surprised by a bow ().

It meant that once someone was surprised by something, he/she would again be surprised by something similar.

It seemed that Cho Ryu Hyang had become overly cautious after his suffering inside the formation that he had created a while back. Come to think of it, this was different from what happened before.

He wasnt afraid of what was inside. After all, Cho Ryu Hyang had the weapon known as Mathematics, didnt he?

Cho Ryu Hyang steadied his breath. He could see an entirely new world laid out in front of him. Cho Ryu Hyang began to walk into the formation.

You came?

Yes, senior brother.

Thanks for coming all the way here.

Why would I not come, when senior brother called?

Hehe, your words are a bit thorny.

You heard me well, if thats the case.

The Dao Emperor, Baek Mu Ryang. He stared at this young junior brother of his, then smirked.

I wondered why my teacher was taking in a disciple in his final years, but I think I understand a little now. You have grown much since the last time I saw you. Im envious.

Was he in his thirties? The man in the white clothing and the white bandana spoke impudently..

I just am a person that everyone is envious of. You see the line right over there? I know you want me, but youll have to wait, senior brother.

The two stars that support the whole of the Alliance.

One was a star high up in the sky, the Dao Emperor Baek Mu Ryang. The other was a star in the mountains that calmly gathered light, the member of the 15 guests, the Lion Sword King (). The mans name was Yu Sul Bin().

A man who hated evil, and valued justice. Unlike Baek Mu Ryang, he nurtured four children as the core disciples of the Alliance. Unlike his appearance, which made him look like he was in his early thirties, he was actually a harmonious expert in his fifties.

By the way, why did senior brother call me all the way here to a dangerous town like this?

The Lion Sword King did not go outside a lot. At least, publicly he didnt go out. He was the hidden sword of the Alliance. The man who would lead the Alliance after Baek Mu Ryang retires.

Come to think of it, this town doesnt have a red light district. I chose a town without women, which are like oxygen for you. I made a big mistake, sorry.

Yu Sul Bin grinned and shook his head.

There are no towns that doesnt have any women. Senior Brother really doesnt know much about women. To think that you think that women only exist in the red light district. hm, it seems that you still have much to learn.

Hoho, my knowledge in that area, compared to you, is just like an ignorant child, which shames me. Could you please teach this ignorant senior brother?

How does tonight sound? Ill enlighten you.

Yu Sul Bin made a face of Sure, Ill be generous for once. towards Baek Mu Ryang. Seeing that, Baek Mu Ryang laughed loudly, and shook his head.

Tonight would be a bit troublesome.

Do you have a meeting with someone?

No, I have a mission for you. Starting tonight.

Yu Sul Bins playful face suddenly turned serious.

Sometimes, he went outside in order to perform unofficial missions. He came all the way here for the same reasons.

But this mission was a little different from ones in the past. Usually, he would be debriefed on the mission before the trip, but this time, everything was extremely secretive.

It has to do with the Demon Church, correct?

You are indeed correct.

What do I have to do?

Baek Mu Ryang faintly smiled.

Now that his strongest weapon was ready for use, the way he would use it would either bring great profit to the Alliance, or it wouldnt do anything at all.

In two days, there will be a battle against the Demon Church at the Wisdom Plains ().

Yu Sul Bins eyes sparkled.

Really? Were fighting them?

Arent there a little too many men here for all this to just be a joke?

I wouldnt put it past you, senior brother, to tell everyone that this whole thing was just a joke.

Do I seem that untrustworthy to you? That makes me sad.

Yu Sul Bin grinned at Baek Mu Ryangs words.

I just meant that senior brother would do anything as long as it benefits the Alliance.

So you werent insulting me.

Right. As long as it was for the future of the Alliance, he could do anything. Baek Mu Ryang rubbed his chin, and spoke.

This could bring a huge profit to the Alliance. So you must succeed. I have no one else but you to rely upon.

Im Yu Sul Bin, you know.

Yu Sul Bin was quite proud of his name. That was because he believed that a name was something that represented a persons worthiness. Baek Mu Ryang, knowing that, nodded.

I know. Why would I not know about my junior brother, who never fails? But you will have to be a bit more careful this time, since one could say that the reason for this whole fight is because of this.

Hoh?

Yu Sul Bin made an excited face. He was sad that he wouldnt be able to fight in the battle, but he received an important mission. What was the mission, then?

What must I do?

Baek Mu Ryang didnt reply immediately. This was because of the mans habit of pausing before saying important things.

When the Alliance-Demon war begins, everyone will inevitably gather at the Wisdom Plains. So while thats happening, you must take some people from the main branch, and seize the Moon Edge Blade Technique. That is what you have to do.

The secret retrieval of the Moon Edge blade Technique. That was the mission that Yu Sul Bin received.

I will bring it back, on my honor.

I trust you, junior brother.

Behind the front that was the Alliance-Demon war, a secret plan was thus being hatched.