Chapter 125
Jinwoon clicked his tongue as he looked at the points Suhyuk had amassed.
“Being a streamer sure is a good job. You’ve gathered a lot.”
On the veranda with a view of the spacious garden. Suhyuk nodded as he sipped the tea Jinwoon had given him.
“I’ve earned quite a bit.”
“Why not just gather the remaining amount? You’re only 300,000 points short.”
Suhyuk had already paid 200,000 points. The remaining amount was 800,000. Jinwoon agreed to proceed with the procedure as points were provided.
Thus, the pending points were 300,000. It would have been less troublesome if he just collected the remaining points and completed the procedure all at once, avoiding multiple journeys and procedures.
“I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
But Suhyuk couldn’t afford to wait. Even if it was inconvenient, he had to use the points he had collected immediately.
“The next trial is just around the corner.”
And there was a possibility that Greg might contact him at any moment. Swallowing those words, Suhyuk urged Jinwoon again.
“Is it difficult?”
“It’s a hassle, but a customer is still a customer. Follow me.”
He gave his affirmative answer in a rather mischievous manner. Suhyuk sighed in relief.
If Jinwoon had told him to come back with the remaining points, he had planned to invest 320,000 points in ‘Selfish Sacrifice’.
That wouldn’t have been a bad option, but it would delay the completion of the procedure.
‘Three sessions for this procedure…’
Although it was a 1,000,000-point procedure, splitting it into multiple sessions was an inconvenience.
Jinwoon’s willingness to accept this without demanding the full payment was purely out of goodwill.
‘Thank you, old man.’
Following behind Jinwoon, Suhyuk sensed that the upcoming procedure would be long and arduous. But no matter how many points it cost, giving up on the procedure was not an option.
The Heart of Thunder he had obtained wouldn’t be easy to handle, just like the lightning skill. Even Thor, one of the higher gods, couldn’t fully control a complete Heart of Thunder.
Upon arriving at the workshop, Jinwoon delivered a warning first.
“This procedure will take longer than the previous one.”
Swish-.
As Jinwoon picked up a pointed surgical tool, Suhyuk took off his upper garment and laid it aside.
“You must not fall asleep. No matter how much it hurts, you must not scream. The effects of the anesthesia will wear off.”
“Understood.”
“Easier said than done.”
Tch, Jinwoon clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Don’t say you want to quit because it hurts later on.”
“Absolutely not.”
500,000 points was not a trivial amount. No matter how much it hurt, he was determined to endure. When it came to enduring, he had confidence.
“Let’s begin.”
Suhyuk gritted his teeth.
The procedure began.
***
Three days had passed since they lost contact with Suhyuk. Un Hyang waited for Suhyuk to return. She had nothing much to do and thought of it as a vacation.
The only things she did occasionally were check the community and monitor the views on newly uploaded videos.
“I’m suffocating here.”
Cheon Ryang stood up from his seat.
“Why are you so silent?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Who else is here besides you and me?”
When Cheon Ryang pointed this out, Un Hyang nodded.
“That’s true.”
“Don’t just nod; talk. What have you been thinking about? You’ve been quiet for days.”
“Thinking about what?”
Un Hyang glanced at the thin, long sword placed beside her.
“Just, sharpening it.”
“Sharpening…”
Cheon Ryang, puzzled, tilted his head and then shut his mouth. It had been three days since Muhwi’s visit. It wasn’t the first time, so he didn’t think much of it.
He thought she had come to persuade Un Hyang once again. But it seemed that wasn’t the case.
‘Is she preparing to fight?’
From that time onwards, Un Hyang had been preparing for battle. She hadn’t been active as a player for a long time, living as a manager in the streaming world.
A sword that hasn’t been used for a long time tends to rust. Un Hyang was silently honing herself, sharpening her edges.
Probably soon.
She would have to use it.
“Is that so?”
Trying his best to act nonchalant, Cheon Ryang stood up.
“Then keep sharpening. I’m going to bed.”
“Are you really not going to talk?”
“Huh?”
“What was said back there.”
“You haven’t told her yet, have you?”
“If you don’t return—”
Muhwi’s words had been cut off midway. Un Hyang kept thinking about what those words meant. If she didn’t return.
Surely, there must have been a threat behind those words.
“It was nothing.”
“Nothing, and you made such a fuss about it?”
“Yeah, well. You know how that guy is. Making unnecessary threats to scare people. No need to pay attention to it and ruin your mood.”
Waving his hands as if he had no intention of discussing further, Cheon Ryang shook his head.
“Anyway, I’m going to bed now. You shouldn’t stay up too late either.”
Cheon Ryang retreated to his room at the end of the veranda. As she confirmed the door closing, she looked up at the sky.
The moon shined brightly, obscuring all the stars. And in that moment, Un Hyang glanced back at the inn’s entrance.
‘Who will come in?’
It would be fortunate if Suhyuk returned. If that happened, they could head up to the higher floors immediately.
Though it wouldn’t necessarily be safe, it would be better than being in the middle of the Murim World.
On the other hand, if Muhwi came through that entrance again…
Creak-.
The door slowly began to open. The door she had left unlocked, hoping Suhyuk would return. As it opened wide, an unwelcome face appeared.
“This time it’s you?”
Un Hyang frowned. A man with a blue scabbard at his side, his mask lowered to reveal a scar running down one eye.
He looked at Un Hyang with a calm gaze.
“You dare speak arrogantly to your master.”
“Master? She left that place ages ago. Just call me Uncle Unhyeop.”
“Once a master, always a master. The bond between us is unbreakable.”
Un Hyang’s former master. He extended his hand toward her.
“Let’s go back now, Hyang-ah. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“Like I care if those bastards are waiting or not.”
Sssaaa—.
The sharp blade she had been honing revealed its aura. Un Hyang’s narrowed, gleaming eyes made the surrounding air grow cold.
Among the men who followed Cha Unhyeop, some began to breathe heavily through their masks.
As Un Hyang started to draw out her energy, it became difficult even to breathe. But there was one.
“It saddens me to hear you say that.”
Cha Unhyeop alone remained unaffected, looking at Un Hyang with a wistful gaze.
“In the end, you leave me no choice but to use force.”
“Who said I’m going quietly?”
“I know you’re a genius. But Hyang-ah, you must understand that among those who stand atop the Murim World, none were not called geniuses in their youth.”
Chiiik-.
Cha Unhyeop placed his hand on his scabbard, causing blue electricity to spark.
“I was the same.”
Cha Unhyeop.
He was a follower of the Lord of Shinryeonseong, Un Cheon-guk.
In his youth, he had competed alongside Un Cheon-guk to become the Lord of Shinryeonseong and was a martial arts master.
Now, he was a giant supporting Shinryeonseong and a high-ranking player.
‘He’s serious, huh.’
Un Hyang frowned. She knew they would come again. She had prepared for a fight and was ready to wield her sword after a long time.
But Cha Unhyeop?
He was no easy opponent.
However.
“I don’t want to waste time talking—”
It wasn’t something she could avoid either.
“Let’s get started quickly. That’d be better for you too, wouldn’t it?”
“Wait.”
Cha Unhyeop stopped Un Hyang as she stood up and grasped her sword.
“This place is too cluttered. There are too many people around. Why don’t we move to another location?”
“Are you kidding me?”
Un Hyang asked, her voice dripping with irritation.
“Why should I? Why should I hide your dirty laundry?”
“You should.”
“Don’t talk nonsense—”
At that moment. Un Hyang’s head turned back. It struck her that Cheon Ryang had been too quiet amidst the commotion. Just then, she sensed a faint presence from inside the room.
“I was about to tell you myself, but you caught on first.”
“You bastards really—!”
“I’m sorry for doing something so petty.”
Though she received an apology, it didn’t make her feel any better. Whether that apology was sincere or not didn’t matter.
Pop—.
Thud-.
Un Hyang, grabbing her sword and rushing to the room, flung open the door where Cheon Ryang was sleeping.
“Cheon Ryang, are you alright—”
Her words abruptly halted as her voice caught in her throat. A man had a sword pointed at Cheon Ryang’s throat, whose body was completely immobilized.
Step, step.
Cha Unhyeop walked up from behind.
“It seems that boy came to Shinryeonseong to represent you.”
Cha Unhyeop’s gaze moved past Un Hyang to the paralyzed Cheon Ryang.
“He’s your closest friend, isn’t he?”
“You people—”
Grinding her teeth, Un Hyang snarled. The entire point of Cha Unhyeop entering through the front door was for this.
His presence had concealed the entry of another infiltrator into Cheon Ryang’s room.
Although the infiltrator’s stealth was impressive, if he had come alone targeting Cheon Ryang, she would have noticed it immediately.
“I won’t insist on going back to the castle. Let’s just move to a quieter location.”
“At least you know how to be ashamed?”
“Indeed,” Cha Unhyeop nodded.
“If ‘we’ lose, we’ll retreat cleanly.”
And with those words.
Whoosh, whoosh—
Numerous martial artists appeared, filling the garden of the inn.
“Really, you’ve become so vile.”
“We will repay this many times over.”
“Today will be the last.”
Swish—
Un Hyang turned around. As she slowly walked out of the room, she glanced back at Cha Unhyeop.
“You, you’ll die by my hand today.”
Meeting her gaze, Cha Unhyeop felt a brief chill run down his spine.
‘A genius…’
Many were called geniuses, but none ever wore that title before their name.
Except for one.
The person who had come to use ‘genius’ as a moniker before her name was Un Hyang, standing right in front of him.
Shinryeonseong desired her talents for that very reason.
‘It was wise to come personally.’
If he had sent lower-ranking disciples like Muhwi, they would have been utterly annihilated.
Swoosh—
As she walked, the martial artists surrounding her parted to make way. The martial artists of Shinryeonseong. To them, Un Hyang was both a living legend and an idol.
Even though they met under these circumstances. She deserved their respect and honor.
“Release him.”
At Cha Unhyeop’s command, the man holding Cheon Ryang’s neck let go.
Thud—
Cheon Ryang’s body collapsed to the floor. Simultaneously, his head, still immobilized by the pressure points, lifted with difficulty.
“No… don’t.”
Pause—
Un Hyang’s footsteps momentarily halted. But she couldn’t turn back now.
“Just sleep a bit.”
Without turning her head, Un Hyang began walking again.
“I’ll be back before the next stream.”
TL’s Corner:
This snippets of events in the background is like a preview of the events that the MC needs to tackle in the future.