Chapter 53

Chapter 53: The Surprise

I held the blue cloth in my hand and whispered to Nano inside my mind.

'Nano. Track the owner of this hem.' Soon after, a cold and mechanical voice responded to my command.

[Tracking in progress…. Tracking Complete,.] then before my eyes a 3D image of a map appeared, indicating a direction I should follow.

"Great Guardian, follow me." I commanded him and then with him on the tow I followed the directions.

It didn't take long for us to get to our desired destination. Strangely enough the place where this hem leads to was just outside the Emerald Serpent Clan's territory. It was an abandoned shack in the middle of the woods, but something tells me that its not a simple abandoned shack at all.

I could smell blood reeking from the place. I was horrified thinking that the smell of blood may have come from my subordinate.

'Nano searches for life signatures.' I commanded my reliable partner.

[Total of 8 signatures present.]

Those seven must've been the Six Swords and Hu Bong and the eighth presence is surely the kidnapper.

"They are here, Great Guardian." I said to the masked guardian beside me. He nodded at me and pulled out his sword. I also did the same, especially my White Dragon Sword which was crafted from the horn of imoogi from the fifth test.

I branded my sword to my right. Killing intent flowing out from it. I would murder whoever this man who dared kidnap my beloved ones to the most unimaginable death. I Swear to heaven that I will not give this man an easy death.

"Let's go." I stepped up and walked towards the shack while concealing my presence, but before I could even approach the shack, its door suddenly swung open and from there a man whom I'm extremely familiar with walked out.

Blue robe accentuated by a golden lining. Long and neatly tied haired, string-like eyes and a wavy sword. There's only one man in the entire cult who fits the description. The Elder of Disgrace, Cheon Mujin.

"Welcome my Lord, to my humble abode!" He greeted me with an upbeat mood.

No… this can't be. Don't tell me that the one who kidnapped my subordinate is my brother? No… this shouldn't be it.

There's no way he is the one who kidnapped them. Yeah, that's right it shouldn't be him. Someone's probably using a skin mask to impersonate my brother. That's right.

"And nope if you are thinking I'm wearing a skin mask then you are unfortunately mistaken. It's me in the flesh."

'Nano is what he is saying true?' I asked my trustworthy companion hoping that this man in front of me is just kidding me but…

[One hundred percent confirmed.

No traces of lies present.]

My world is starting to crumble once again. Why? Why does fate have to be so cruel against me? I respected this man! I looked up to him! Why!? Why Does this fucking world have to keep making my already complicated life more difficult!!

"Why? Why are you doing this!!" I shouted at him. The ground was uprooted from my scream as the shack he was standing behind shook.

***

The Great Guardian was also speechless. Not in a hundred years he would've thought that it was Cheon Mujin who took the Lord's subordinate hostage.

The First Elder have always been on the side of the cult. He never does something that is out of line and everything that he did was always for the betterment of the Cult. His loyalty is unrivaled, but why? Why would he commit treason and kidnap the Lord's subordinate?

"Why? Do you want to know why I did this?" Cheon Mujin said.

"Because I have to. I have to do it." He answered. His voice was trailing with a venomous tone.

"What do you mean you have to! You have all the things you could've asked for! Status! Power! Money! The cult has given it all to you! What more do you want!" Shouted Cheon Yeowun. He doesn't get emotional but at this moment he is letting his pure raw emotion take the course of his words.

"It's not enough! The Cult? Do you think this place can accommodate my greed! No it is not enough! I need to venture out of the world and I need that throne for that to happen! You are a nuisance to my plan. An obstacle to my dream." Cheon Mujin brandished his wavy sword to the side and pointed it to Cheon Yeowun.

"And for that, I'll have to dethrone you and exile you away." Cheon Mujin said.

The Great Guardian slid in through their conversation and pointed his sword at Cheon Mujin.

"First Elder! You have disrespected the Lord enough! You have no right to say those words to the Lord! This is blasphemy to the highest level!!" Shouted Great Guardian Marakyum with his most furious and angry voice. The Guardians are fiercely loyal to the Lord. They do not take any offense to the Lord's name lightly and would even sacrifice themselves for him.

"Your loyalty is admirable, Great Guardian. But it does not belong to the right person." Cheon Mujin said as he looked at the masked face of the Great Guardian.

"You! You dare utter that my loyalty is unfounded! I'll kill you!" Unable to take Cheon Mujin's word anymore Great Guardian Marakyum strided forward using his movement technique becoming the wind itself.

Step of the Wind God

A technique that resembles that of a God's stride. True to its name, Great Guardian did resemble that of a God's stride upon this technique's execution.

His feet lifted off from the ground as he resembled that of a furious surge of wind. His sword brandished and unfolded a mirage of sword movement executing the True Demon Sword Technique.

Upon this attack Cheon Mujin smiled and swung his wavy sword in response. An image of a snake appeared from the tip of the sword and encircled Great Guardian Marakyum. The masked guardian gasped, he was trapped but he didn't let himself be caught by it.

Thankfully due to his masterful movement Great Guardian managed to maneuver around the serpent's entanglement and appear beside Cheon Mujin.

He swung his sword at him while the latter brought up to defend. Cheon Mujin managed to defend himself from Great Guardian Marakyum's attack but he didn't manage to take Cheob Yeowun into account.

The Lord of the Demon Cult took this opportunity and joined in on the fight. While Cheon Mujin was distracted from defending the Great Guardian's attack he slipped in and kicked Cheon Mujin on the side.

Since Cheon Yeowun is at the Supreme Master realm and Great Guardian is also at the stage of Supreme Master, Cheon Mujin is in for an intense fight.