Chapter 129: Chapter 129
'I've got someone on my tail.'
Heukam's face contorted.
There would be times where he would get an ominous feeling. He could have just chose to ignored it, but Heukam knows better than to just ignore his gut feeling.
His prudence of following his intuition is one of the reasons why Heukam has managed to survive this far.
Heukam had changed his course and erased his traces more delicately. But nevertheless, his anxiety did not go away.
It wasn't something he could be sure of not unless he could see it with his own eyes.
Heukam trusted his senses.
'I'm sure someone's following me.'
He thought of the possibility that he might be tracked, but he didn't know that someone would really pursue him.
Heukam felt a strong sense of crisis.
All the way from Chengdu to this place, he really did his best to erase his traces. It should have been impossible for a warrior, even for those who had great tracking skills, to find and follow the traces he left behind.
However, Heukam's confidence was shattered since someone indeed managed to follow him up to this point. It was clear that one who was following him had great tracking techniques.
'Were there such a person in Sichuan?'
Heukam bit his lip.
There was only one person who came to mind.
A person who ruined the plans he worked hard for. And the same person who killed Seo Mun-pyeong and instantly neutralized the collaborative work of Won Ga-young and Neung Soun.
Heukam wasn't afraid of anyone but the moment he saw him, goosebumps had run all over his body. It wasn't just because the man was strong.
It was because he felt that he was a human being of his own kind.
An existence who thrives in the dark and someone who doesn't hesitate to use any means to achieve his own purpose.
A person who exerts more power when he's hidden than when he's exposed.
Pyo-wol.
'He's caught up.'
Pyo-wol's reason for chasing him didn't matter. What matters is that Pyo-wol is currently pursuing him.
"Shit!"
Heukam spit out swear words.
If he was alone, he was confident that he would escape from Pyo-wol's pursuit. But he had a burden called Won Ga-young. With Ga-young on his back, it was impossible to completely evade Pyo-wol's pursuit.
However, it was not easy for him to just abandon or kill Won Ga-young. If he did, all the painstaking efforts he had made so far would have been in vain.
Above all, it doesn't seem likely that Pyo-wol would give up chasing him even if he let go of Won Ga-young. Heukam knows that Pyo-wol is the kind of person who would chase his target even to the depths of hell.
Perhaps, if Heukam had been in Pyo-wol's position, he would probably have acted the same.
So, Heukam had only one option left.
It was to arrive at the Xiaoleiyin Temple in the shortest time.
Xiaoleiyin Temple was his nest. Although he was not confident enough in dealing with Pyo-wol alone, the Xiaoleiyin Temple was filled with monks who had a stronger force.
No matter how strong Pyo-wol is, he would not be able to deal with them all.
With that being said, Heukam started running with all his power instead of wasting his time erasing his traces.
Running with a person on his shoulder was not an easy task. Furthermore, what made it all the more difficult is traversing the snow-covered Western Plateau.
But Heukam made the impossible possible with his superhuman patience and awareness.
Finally, as he descended from the Western Plateau, a vast plain with no end in sight appeared.
It was an incredibly dramatic change. But it was a familiar scene for Heukam.
He had finally arrived in Xizang, which could be called his inner courtyard.
'They should be tired by the moment they escape from the mountains.'
The eyes of Heukam shone viciously.
* * *
Jin Geum-woo's appearance was a mess as he came out through the snow-covered forest. His clothes were torn everywhere, and his body was full of scratches from tree branches.
He didn't feel any pain since it was just superficial wounds. But that didn't stop him from having a tired expression.
He couldn't rest even for a moment because he was concerned about landslides and cliffs. But what bothered him more than anything else was the extreme cold.
The severe cold that penetrated his bone was so painful that it was hard to bear despite his strength and experience.
The bitter cold gnawed at his stamina like an insect.
It was only then that Jin Geum-woo realized why the West Highlands was so notorious. He learned for the first time that going through a winter mountain without any preparations was almost close to suicide.
The only reason he survived until now was because his internal energy was so deep. But if it had been anyone else, they would have frozen to death on the way.
Jin Geum-woo glanced at Pyo-wol.
Pyo-wol's appearance was intact. From his appearance alone, it was hard to believe that Pyo-wol had actually passed through the snow-covered alpine region.
'I didn't know I would be so jealous because of a mere cloak.'
"Ha!"
"Kill him!"
They stormed towards Jin Geom-woo with a terrifying force.
Sreung!
At that moment, Jin Geum-woo pulled out his sword.
A dominating force bloomed like a cloud from his whole body.
Nine Ring Heavenly Sword, Blood Rain Sword.1
Schiaak!
The swordsmanship technique went and overpowered the bandits.
And a scene from hell spread across the plains.
* * *
Pyo-wol paused for a moment at the eerie feeling he felt behind his back.
But he didn't look back.
Pyo-wol already knew even without confirming it with his own eyes that Jin Geum-woo was going crazy.
Goosebumps rose along his spine. The qi and technique that Jin Geum-woo radiated was that frightening and fatal.
He could see why Jin Geum-woo managed to belong to one of the top ranking experts in Jianghu. However, no matter how strong Jin Geum-woo was, he would have to take a considerable amount of time to deal with all the 100 bandits.
Pyo-wol increased his speed.
Jin Geum-woo had seen Pyo-wol's tracking speed so far and thought it was his best, but what he saw was actually not Pyo-wol's true ability.
Pyo-wol was not foolish enough to show his true abilities in front of others.
Now that he had shaken off Jin Geum-woo, this was the perfect opportunity.
Pyo-wol started running at an unprecedented rate.
The strong wind almost erased the faint traces, but it didn't matter. Pyo-wol's nose could smell the scents carried in the wind.
A dry wind with little moisture. There were also many scents mixed in it.
To ordinary people, it would be just an unpleasant smell, but to Pyo-wol, it was a reservoir of information.
Pyo-wol distinguished a sweet scent from among the numerous scents.
'Found you.'
The scent was coming from Won Ga-young.
Pyo-wol wasn't sure how, but Won Ga-young smelled like sweet candy. Maybe it was her natural body scent, or it could be that she was influenced by her cultivation method making her have that distinct scent on her body.
Either way, it didn't matter to Pyo-wol.
Pyo-wol remembered Won Ga-young's scent when she bumped into him. Thanks to her, even though her traces on the floor were gone, Pyo-wol was able to track her down.
Pyo-wol sprinted in the direction the wind was blowing.
Because the burden called Jin Geum-woo was removed, Pyo-wol's speed was doubled. No one was watching him, so he had nothing to be concerned about.
Pyo-wol sprinted across the plains like the wind.
More and more, Won Ga-young's smell started to get stronger.
This could only mean that the gap between him and Heukam was rapidly narrowing.
In fact, he could already see someone moving in the distance.
A black figure running while carrying someone on his shoulder.
It was Heukam.
However, Heukam did not notice at all that Pyo-wol was near and just behind him.
It was natural.
Pyo-wol completely concealed his presence. And Jin Geum-woo, who was only a burden, was also removed.
No matter how keen Heukam's eyes were, and no matter how good his senses were, it was impossible for him to notice the presence of Pyo-wol.
Pyo-wol followed Heukam like a ghost.
He thoroughly matched himself to Heukam's every action.
Pyo-wol would breathe at the same time as Heukam, and Pyo-wol's heart would beat at the same rate as Heukam..
Pyo-wol basically synchronized his body with Heukam.
It was one of Pyo-wol's unique skills that no one could imitate.
At this moment, Pyo-wol was another Heukam. So Heukam did not notice Pyo-wol at all, even though Pyo-wol was directly behind him.
Rather, it was another person who discovered Pyo-wol.
Won Ga-young, who was shaking helplessly on the shoulders of Heukam, raised her head and saw Pyo-wol.
Her eyes fluttered as if they were about to tear open. If Heukam had not restrained her, she would have screamed at that moment.
Pale white face, insensitive eyes that show no emotion.
It was as if a ghost was following them.
'Pyo-wol!'