Chapter 269 : Plague (4)
Chapter 269: Plague (4)
The Murim Alliance Leader was personally inviting him to join the Alliance.
For Il-mok, the Eighth Young Master of the Demonic Cult, this was nothing short of ridiculous.
Of course, his first instinct was to dismiss the whole thing as ridiculous. But he quickly pushed those emotions aside and started thinking things through more carefully.
'Join the Murim Alliance as a spy?'
It wasn't a bad option on paper.
Being on the inside would definitely give them better access to information than trying to gather intel from the outside.
But Il-mok realized pretty quickly that it was a bad move.
'I know things happened with the Blood Cult and the Tang Family, but this timing is way too random.'
Add to that the fact that the Alliance Leader had initially tested them with a surprise attack.
'He doesn't trust us. Not even a little.'
If they actually joined the Murim Alliance under these circumstances, there was a serious risk that information about them would end up flowing straight to the Alliance instead. And if their connection to the Demonic Cult got exposed somehow, everything they'd built up until now would go up in smoke.
Il-mok figured refusing was the best option, but even that wasn't going to be easy.
The Alliance Leader kept apologizing casually and spoke in such a gentle tone that it masked his true intent.
But make no mistake.
Judging by that initial sneak attack alone, this "invitation" to join the Alliance was basically a veiled threat.
Accepting the invitation or refusing it.
Both options looked like losing moves. So Il-mok chose a third path.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid joining the Murim Alliance right now might be a bit problematic."
He was stalling. Buying time.
And this choice actually had some justification behind it.
"As you can see, our Maitreya Luminous Cult is barely keeping up with caring for the plague victims as it is. We simply don't have the capacity to work alongside the Alliance on anything else right now."
The Alliance Leader's brow furrowed slightly as he stroked his beard, looking somewhat unconvinced.
"Isn't that something physicians and the government should be handling? Of course, it's admirable that the Maitreya Luminous Cult cares so deeply for the common people, but from where I'm standing, it looks like you're using a famous sword to chop vegetables. Why not focus on what you're actually good at?"
Il-mok responded to the Alliance Leader's pointed remark with an indifferent tone.
"That's exactly why we need to deal with this plague first. It was spread by the Blood Cult after all."
"!?"
Even the Alliance Leader hadn't seen that coming. For the first time, Cheok Pae-myeong showed a genuinely flustered expression.
"What do you mean by the Blood Cult?"
"The Blood Cult used sorcery to hide a Jiangshi in the river. The plague spread because of the cursed energy and curses emanating from those Jiangshi. I'm guessing it was revenge for what happened at Mount Baihe."
"Huh. A Jiangshi, you say."
"If you don't believe me, I can show you the Jiangshi."
"......"
Caught off guard by this unexpected revelation, the Murim Alliance Leader took a moment to collect his thoughts.
Il-mok seized the opportunity to strike first.
"Our Maitreya Luminous Cult agrees with what you're saying, Alliance Leader. But before that, we need to prevent the countless deaths the Blood Cult will cause, don't we? That's exactly why we have to prioritize treating the plague victims here and now."
"Hmm. But how exactly do martial artists like yourselves plan to treat a plague? Especially one created through the Blood Cult's sorcery?"
Il-mok shrugged lightly at the question.
"We got lucky. When we helped Cloud White Pavilion, Wudang gave us a nice gift in the form of three Lesser Azure Pills."
"...Wudang?"
This was clearly new to the Alliance Leader too as his expression shifted ever so slightly.
"That's right. If you don't believe me, feel free to confirm it with Wudang. Besides, our Maitreya Luminous Cult has physicians of our own. If we utilize the cleansing ability of the Lesser Azure Pills alongside our physicians' capabilities, we believe that we should be able to control the plague. It might take some time, but it's definitely possible."
The Alliance Leader stroked his beard as if organizing his thoughts, then finally spoke.
"If that's what the Maitreya Luminous Cult is determined to do, very well then. I'll be satisfied with exchanging greetings today and take my leave. If you ever have the time, please think about joining us."
With that, the Alliance Leader left with light steps as if he had no lingering attachments.
Il-mok watched his retreating figure for a moment.
Just as the Alliance Leader was about to disappear from view, a voice transmission reached Il-mok's ear.
—Is it really okay to just let the Alliance Leader leave like this, Young Master?
It was Dam Bin's voice transmission.
—It's fine. If we fight him with our current strength, we'd just get wiped out.
—Then... shall I tail him and send word to headquarters?
—By the time reinforcements arrive from headquarters, he'll already be back at the Alliance. And even with your stealth techniques, Squad Leader Dam Bin, I don't think you'd be able to fool him.
Dam Bin went silent at Il-mok's firm answer.
Having managed to navigate the situation, Il-mok let out a light sigh.
"Phew."
He hadn't shown it, but he felt like he was choking the whole time they were talking.
Collecting himself, Il-mok turned his head and looked around the pavilion.
Locals who heard the noise and patients with mild symptoms were staring at him with faces full of worry.
'You never know how life's going to play out. This time, these people actually saved us.'
The only reason Il-mok could talk back to a man who could kill him in a heartbeat was because of these very people.
'Judging by his reaction back then and throughout the conversation, he cares about his reputation, even if he acts like he doesn't.'
Which made sense, really. The leader of a faction claiming to be righteous pretty much had to care about appearances and justification.
The only question was whether he cared about righteousness because he was genuinely righteous or if he was just a hypocrite using it for propaganda.
When Il-mok had said, "Do you really think the Alliance Leader would chop off the head of a guy helping plague victims in broad daylight?", it wasn't just to drive away the Demonic Cult members.
He'd phrased it like a sarcastic jab to hide his real intent, but he was actually testing the Alliance Leader.
And thanks to their entire conversation, Il-mok had learned one important fact.
'He's got similar ideals to the Flying Dragon Pavilion Lord.'
The man had no problem with sacrificing the few for the many.
After all, he'd basically said that fighting the Blood Cult was more important than caring for plague victims.
Just as the Alliance Leader had tested the Maitreya Luminous Cult with that initial surprise attack, Il-mok had also managed to gather some intel on the Alliance Leader, modest as it was.
Naturally, the Alliance Leader's parting words came to mind.
—I'll be satisfied with exchanging greetings today and take my leave.
It wasn't the implied threat that he might come back that bothered Il-mok. What really stuck with him was the part about being satisfied with “greetings."
It felt like the Alliance Leader had at least satisfied his curiosity, if nothing else.
'I guess it's a draw for now.'
Not exactly a satisfying result. Though he called it a draw, the initiative of power lay with the other side.
Of course, if we are talking about the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult instead of the Maitreya Cult, we’re stronger. But if the Heavenly Demon Cult makes a move, they wouldn't just be fighting the Alliance, they'd be fighting all of the Central Plains.
'I guess I should hope the Blood Cult bastards shake up the Murim Alliance as much as possible.'
That thought crossed his mind first, but it didn't sit well with him.
He really didn't want to root for the same assholes who'd spread a plague in Lanzhou.
As Il-mok pondered whether there was a way to screw over both sides at once, something popped into his head.
'Oh right. That's still an option.'
He still had a trump card that could turn the war between the Blood Cult and the Murim Alliance into complete chaos.
'When would be the best time to play it for maximum effect?'
Il-mok's expression had already shifted into that of a proper Demonic Cult Young Master.
***
Despite the unexpected visit from the Murim Alliance Leader, the Maitreya Luminous Cult's plague treatment efforts continued without a hitch.
An Jeok-un and the sorcerers who'd gone to the river in the slums drove wooden stakes into the ground nearby and strung up ropes to block people's access while they performed rituals to purify the water.
"Hey, if you block it off like this, what are we supposed to drink and live on?"
Occasionally, poor residents would show up wanting to drink or wash with the river water, but the sorcerers had no problem name-dropping the Maitreya Luminous Cult.
"We're from the Maitreya Luminous Cult."
"The plague spread because of this river. If you don't want to catch it, take this money and go buy yourself some tea at a teahouse."
The Maitreya Luminous Cult already had a good reputation in Lanzhou, and adding a few coins to the mix meant most people left without complaint.
"Argh! Give me water! Water! Or give me more money!"
Of course, some people in the slums had nothing to lose and absolutely no shame.
"Have you forgotten all the kindness the Maitreya Luminous Cult has shown you? How can you be so shameless?!"
"Hmph. Does shame put food on the table?"
But when someone approached the shameless person to stop him and whispered in his ear, his attitude changed instantly.
"Are you crazy? You got a death wish? This is the Maitreya Luminous Cult business. Get up. You keep this up and you might actually end up dead without anyone knowing."
It was because of how the Maitreya Luminous Cult had operated so far.
Sure, they were kind to the unfortunate and the good-hearted. But to those who got in their way or bullied decent people, they are nothing more than ruthless butchers.
Just like when they'd cleaned up the branch offices of the Hao Clan and exterminated the Heavenly Orchid Society.
So while the sorcerers used a bit of money and the Maitreya Luminous Cult's name to keep people away and purify the river...
Physician Seo Jae-pil successfully created a medicinal decoction to treat the plague using the three Lesser Azure Pills.
They distributed the medicine to those with the most severe symptoms first and began treatment in earnest. Thanks to that, patients gradually started showing signs of improvement.
"Phew."
After several days of what felt like a forced march with barely any sleep, Il-mok let out a light sigh as he received continuous positive reports.
"At least now I can breathe a little easier."
Dam Bin smiled as she watched him. It was a smile filled with respect and admiration.
"It's all thanks to your grace, Young Master."
"Me? All I did was run my mouth. What have I actually done?"
"Didn’t we solve this because of your quick thinking and instructions, Young Master?"
The others nodded in agreement with Dam Bin's words.
Among them, Physician Seo Jae-pil was nodding the most enthusiastically.
"You investigated the movements of everyone infected, found hidden carriers, and even traced the plague back to its source. Even I, who studied medicine, never thought of such methods, Young Master. This is an incredibly important case that must be reported to headquarters."
It was the moment when concepts like disinfectant alcohol, anesthesia, psychiatric treatment, and now epidemiological investigation became established within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Everyone was staring at him like he was a god.
Feeling that he’d become like his Master at this rate, Il-mok changed the subject.
"Ahem. How are things going at the river?"
Chamber Master An Jeok-un answered with his characteristically poker face.
"Things are more or less under control. Since we eliminated the Jiangshi, no more cursed energy is accumulating. Plus, since it's flowing water, some of it naturally disperses on its own."
"That's a relief. So now we just need to focus on caring for the remaining patients until they're fully recovered..."
Il-mok was about to wrap up the meeting when—
"Urp..."
Suddenly, Dam Bin made a retching sound and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Everyone, including Il-mok, looked shocked.
"Physician Seo, hurry and check Squad Leader Dam's condition. She might have caught the plague."
It was definitely suspicious.
If ordinary people tried to care for plague patients, they risked spreading the disease further, so those who could use internal energy had been the ones treating patients and Dam Bin was no exception.
"I've been constantly expelling the poison with my internal energy, Young Master. There's no way I caught the plague, urp..."
Dam Bin tried to deny it dismissively, but when she retched again, Physician Seo Jae-pil rushed over and checked her pulse.
After examining her pulse for a moment, Seo Jae-pil tilted his head as if something was off.
"I'm sorry, but please bear with me for a moment, Squad Leader Dam Bin."
After saying that, Seo Jae-pil checked not just her wrist, but also her back, abdomen, face, and various other areas.
And the longer the examination went on, the more complicated the physician's expression became.
'Please don’t tell me that the virus has mutated.’
Il-mok gulped, remembering the horrible pandemic he went through back in the modern world.
After finishing his examination, Physician Seo Jae-pil took a step back from Dam Bin and spoke.
He still had a weird look on his face.
"Ahem... You're pregnant."
"!?"
The moment Seo Jae-pil dropped that bombshell of an announcement, silence fell over the hall. Then, as if on cue, everyone's eyes turned to Ouyang Mun.