Chapter 254 : Vendetta (1)
Chapter 254: Vendetta (1)
Il-mok found himself caught in a dilemma.
‘Should I kill this bastard right now?’
Although his current identity was merely a pretext to escape the clutches of his Master and Eldest Brother, a grudge was still a grudge. No matter how you sliced it, Uncle Taehyeon had lost his life because of this son of a bitch.
The problem is timing.
As much as Il-mok wanted to gut him—and he really wanted to—the circumstances just weren't right.
‘This is a trap laid by those Blood Cult bastards. If I get caught up fighting this asshole, my companions could end up in serious danger.’
His priority right now is to get his group out of the Formation’s influence; revenge could wait. Maybe he’d get a chance after they dealt with the Blood Cult. And if not? well, his time would come eventually.
While Il-mok was busy plotting revenge in his head, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord gave him a cold look and spoke, "How strange. How would the Maitreya Luminous Cult from Gansu know that the Blood Cult was here and come all this way?"
Unlike the Beggars’ Gang, which had a friendly relationship with the Maitreya Luminous Cult, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord clearly suspected Il-mok.
Thinking quickly on his feet, Il-mok mixed truth with lies in his answer.
"Recently, the Sichuan Tang Family tried to pull something in Pingliang County."
"...The Sichuan Tang Family?"
The sudden mention of the Tang Family made both the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord and Beggar Chaser wear peculiar expressions.
Il-mok ignored their faces and pressed on.
"The Beggars’ Gang should know from Little Tiger Beggar about Pingliang County. That place was a living hell for the people there because of a guy called the Ghost Valley Master. And that guy was highly likely linked to the Blood Cult."
"I'm aware of that. Since the Maitreya Luminous Cult informed us about this Ghost Valley Master, we were able to follow the Blood Cult's trail."
Beggar Chaser's interjection lent credibility to Il-mok's story.
"So while our cult was working to save the innocent people of Pingliang County, the Tang Family suddenly started making moves. Doesn't that seem suspicious to you?"
"…So you’re claiming the Tang Family is in league with the Blood Cult?"
Il-mok shook his head at the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord's question.
"I don't know about that. We just came to Sichuan because the Tang Family acted suspiciously, and we happened to hear rumors about the Heavenly Demon Secret Cave. The situation and timing were too coincidental to ignore, so we came here. And now, seeing this massive formation over, we are now certain that the Blood Cult is definitely involved in this incident.”
Il-mok deliberately omitted details regarding the Black Island Gang and the Ascension Sword.
The story of the Black Flash Gang was too trivial and would only lengthen the explanation, while the Ascension Sword was something he wanted to keep under wraps just in case.
There was an old saying in the martial world of hiding thirty percent of your strength and putting only seventy percent in your punch. Revealing a suspicious artifact like the Ascension Sword wouldn't do him any favors.
On top of that...
‘Although it’s now free of the vengeful spirits, it is still an item connected to the Blood Cult. There is no need to invite needless misunderstanding.’
Getting implicated with the Blood Cult would be nothing but trouble.
It’s not like he could prove he wasn’t Blood Cult by saying, "Hey, relax, we're actually the Demonic Cult!"
Beggar Chaser seemed to accept Il-mok's reasonably coherent explanation, but doubt still lingered in the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord's eyes.
"Hmm. It seems you came for the Heavenly Demon Secret Cave rather than the Blood Cult."
Il-mok let out an irritated sigh at the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord's continued suspicion.
"Does it matter if it’s the Blood Cult or the Secret Cave right now? If you’re planning to waste time here, I’m leaving first."
Just as the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord was about to raise another objection to Il-mok's words, Beggar Chaser stepped in.
"Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord, people might be dying all over the mountain right now because of this formation. That goes for my beggars and your own men."
Beggar Chaser's intervention wasn't purely out of trust in the Maitreya Luminous Cult. In fact, his distrust of the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord played a bigger role.
On their way here, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord had shown signs of stalling multiple times.
Perhaps sensing Beggar Chaser's suspicions, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord swallowed a sigh and cupped his fists toward Il-mok.
"You and Elder Beggar Chaser are right. My apologies for wasting time in such an urgent situation."
He was just going through the motions; there wasn't a shred of actual remorse in that apology.
‘Tsk.’
Il-mok clicked his tongue inwardly and returned the gesture.
Right now, saving his companions is the top priority.
***
Il-mok moved through Mount Baihe alongside Beggar Chaser and the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord.
Maybe it was because chasing people is their job, but they are pretty good at reading energy flows and tracking footprints.
Watching them from a step behind, Il-mok organized what he'd figured out so far.
‘Looks like they didn't come alone.’
Beggar Chaser had mentioned earlier that other beggars and men from the Flying Dragon Pavilion are in danger.
That meant they are all stuck in the nightmare caused by the Formation, and only these two bosses had managed to break free.
Still, they were probably in less danger than the cultists.
Unlike Il-mok, who'd escaped the nightmare thanks to the Ascension Sword's help, those two had broken free on their own.
‘Is this the difference between Orthodox martial arts and Demonic Arts...? Well, the gap in our cultivation realm probably plays a role too.’
He’d guessed as much when he first saw them, but both Beggar Chaser and the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord are formidable opponents.
He couldn’t guarantee a win against them. They are at least as strong as him, maybe even a level or two higher.
Vrummm.
As they searched for the Formation's source, the Ascension Sword in Il-mok's hand began to cry out again.
"It's been humming on and off for a while now. What kind of sword is that?"
Beggar Chaser had ignored it the first few times, but his curiosity finally got the better of him.
In the martial world, digging too deep into someone's weapons or martial arts is considered extremely rude, so Beggar Chaser had been holding back.
Il-mok answered the lie without changing his expression.
"It's a sword imbued with evil-destroying energy. Since it's a Blood Cult Formation filled with sinister qi, it's been crying out constantly."
In truth, it is a sword that only goes berserk when dealing with Blood Cult bastards.
"Hahaha. They said you are devoted to punishing evil, that sword truly fits the Maitreya Luminous Cult perfectly."
Il-mok just shrugged and said, "Judging by how the sword's vibrating, I'd say it's this way."
With the Ascension Sword's help, they continued following the traces with Beggar Chaser and the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord in tow.
Vrrruumm.
Before a certain thicket, the Ascension Sword started screaming like it was having a fit.
"The traces led here... but I don't sense any presence at all."
"And the tracks just disappear right at the bushes."
The two elders looked at each other and nodded.
"A Formation."
"Definitely a Formation."
Realizing they are blocked by a Formation, they thought for a second and clicked their tongues.
"We don't have time to search for the Life Gate."
"We'll have to force our way through."
They each took positions at a certain distance apart, then turned to look at Il-mok.
"Join us."
Taking the hint, Il-mok stood between them and drew his internal energy from his dantian.
In sync, Beggar Chaser and the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord also assumed their stances and prepared their ultimate techniques.
The first to move is Beggar Chaser.
"Haaaaat!"
With a shout, Beggar Chaser thrust both palms forward, releasing a Force Qi that took the shape of a dragon.
That is the Jade Dragon Eight Palms. Though a step below the mighty Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and Dog-Beating Staff Technique passed only to the Gang Leader and the heir, it’s still worthy of being called a supreme technique.
As the dragon-shaped Force Qi collided with the Formation with a thunderous roar, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord silently swung his sword.
Shing!
The sword, shrouded in a hazy Sword Force unlike any of its kind, cracked the Formation with an eerie sound as if slicing through space itself.
Seizing the moment the flow of energy distorted, Il-mok swung the Ascension Sword without hesitation.
It is a strike that applied the insight he’d gained from his clash with the Ghost Valley Master, aiming to cut the twisted energy flow.
And then...
'Holy crap.'
The moment the sword touched the Formation, it started sucking up the energy, making the barrier crumble even faster. Since it was a Blood Cult trap filled with Blood Qi, the sword practically feasted on it.
‘Spit it out!’
Il-mok converted the Blood Qi into Sword Qi as fast as the Ascension Sword absorbed it, slashing through the Formation.
Noticing the formation's energy dispersing rapidly, Beggar Chaser shouted in admiration.
"Indeed! You weren't kidding about it having evil-destroying properties!"
Beggar Chaser only saw the Formation's energy thinning and mistakenly assumed the Ascension Sword neutralized Blood Qi.
In contrast, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord looked at Il-mok with a subtle expression, but soon turned his head to face forward.
The completely unbalanced Formation crumbled, and as the thicket blocking their view vanished like a mirage, a bizarre scene unfolded.
It’s a clearing with a huge altar and weird patterns dug into the ground.
A group of about fifteen people moving about, and a gaunt-looking old man rippling with immense energy stood at the center of that altar.
"This can't be."
"I can't believe they were hiding this much power."
The situation is so dire that they can’t afford to get distracted.
They instinctively felt it.
That gaunt old man in the center was preparing to do something absolutely outrageous.
Then, a sturdy-looking old man beside him let out a booming laugh.
"Hahahaha! So there are still a few useful ones left!"
He looked happy about it as he turned to the gaunt old man.
"I'll handle those bastards, so just focus on the Great Ritual, Third Elder."
The Third Elder didn't say a word, keeping his eyes shut to focus on the ritual.
Even with uninvited guests intruding, the so-called Third Elder simply continued adjusting the massive energy. Taking this as an answer, the sturdy-looking old man began walking forward.
"Bwahaha! I was worried I’d be lonely without any guests, but I'm grateful you came all this way!"
As the heartily laughing old man approached, the density of qi emanating from him grew thicker.
Just the energy waves he radiated were vicious enough to make their hair stand on end, and Il-mok felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
'...It reminds me of when Eldest Brother went berserk.'
It was just like the day Wi Jin-hak went crazy right before he mastered his Demonic Arts.
‘Is this a master on the verge of reaching the Realm of Truth?’
Though clearly several levels above him in skill, gauging his cultivation level wasn't difficult. The man was scattering his energy around like a lunatic.
While Il-mok internally assessed the old man's level, the old man shouted with a smile glistening with killing intent.
"Come on then, entertain me!"
The moment that sentence dropped, the ground exploded and the old man’s body crossed the distance in a blur.
The first target the old man aimed for is Beggar Chaser.
A blood-red Force Qi rippled on the old man’s saber and Beggar Chaser barely managed to block that strike with his twin palms.
Boom!!
"Kugh..."
As Beggar Chaser got pushed back several steps by the force...
Swish!
The Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord soundlessly closed the distance and timed his strike as the old man swung his saber.
"Hahahaha!"
Like a cat enjoying the struggles of a mouse, the old man laughed heartily again and dodged the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord's sword by a hair's breadth.
To avoid the old man's counterattack, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord retreated with light steps.
Whoosh!
And the old man's saber swept past right in front of his nose.
'Now.'
The Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord expected the Incarnation of Maitreya to step in at this moment and attack the old man.
"!?"
But what his eyes capture is the sight of the Incarnation of Maitrya using his lightness skill to widen the distance instead.
"Hold him off! Destroying the Grand Ritual is the priority, so I'll handle that bastard!"
Hearing Il-mok's excuse, the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel.