Chapter 228 : Chapter 228
Chapter 228. Assembly (1)
“Where is it? The base of those Demonic Cult bastards!”
At the Beggars’ Sect Leader's question, Jin Yuseong pointed his finger to the north.
“It is in the northern steppe region. A place far from the Central Plains. The kind of place where only nomads live.”
“Amitabha. So that is why it was so difficult to find.”
The northern steppe region. The expression made it sound small, but it was a considerably vast land.
However, this alone was a gain in its own right.
At the very least, they no longer needed to search as far as Xinjiang and Nanman.
Furthermore, the northern steppe region was a place that was only large in landmass.
In the end, the places where the nomads actually lived were limited.
“A place far from the Central Plains. If we send the beggars of our sect to search in earnest, we should be able to find it within a few months.”
At those words, the Shaolin Abbot shook his head.
“If we can obtain more specific information through this man here, we should be able to shorten that period even further.”
The man the Shaolin Abbot pointed to was the warrior who had been called Great Hero Yang.
“Ah! You kept that Demonic Cult follower alive? Hah, I couldn’t contain my anger and ended up killing the Geoncheongmun Leader, but that is truly great patience.”
“Amitabha. It was not because of the precept against killing. I kept him alive to somehow find a clue, as I did not know that Benefactor Ghost Sword would bring such important information.”
The abbot added.
If he had been the one to face the Geoncheongmun Leader, the result would likely have been the same.
“The Geoncheongmun Leader was just being used, so he wouldn’t have known the Demonic Cult’s location, would he?”
“Hehehe. That is also true.”
The Beggars’ Sect Leader, who was nodding, belatedly realized something and looked at Jin Yuseong.
“But how did you find out this information? You were clearly in Sichuan… Ah! Did you perhaps succeed in capturing someone there as well?”
“Yes. I captured a man called the Right Guardian Envoy of the Demonic Cult and interrogated him.”
Jin Yuseong added to that the things he had found out through the Right Guardian Envoy.
“The-the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult devoured the Sword Venerable? Is-is that really true?”
The sect leader’s eyes widened as if they would burst.
In contrast, the Shaolin Abbot recited the Buddha's name with a mournful expression.
“Amitabha.”
The news he had just heard felt more grim than any other words he had heard so far.
Jin Yuseong added even more terrifying news to that.
“In addition to the Cult Leader, the skills of an old man called the Great Elder are also said to be very threatening.”
As if applying medicine after inflicting a wound, he belatedly uttered some positive news.
“The Left and Right Guardian Envoys, who could be called the next in rank, are already dead. Also, perhaps due to the nature of the demonic art, the number of Demonic Cult followers itself did not seem to be that large.”
A martial art that grows by devouring people.
The more people who learned it, the more elixirs had to be shared among more people.
“Hmph. It is a relief that those bastards were hiding in the sparsely populated north.”
The sect leader thought that if it had been the much more populous Central Plains, the number of Demonic Cult followers who learned the demonic art would have increased significantly.
At this, the Shaolin Abbot shook his head.
“Amitabha. On the contrary, is it not because they were hiding in such a place that they were able to accumulate evil deeds without being discovered until now?”
The north was divided into nomadic tribal units.
Furthermore, the areas where people lived were also far apart.
Naturally, it was a place where news or rumors could not spread easily.
If it had been the Central Plains, although they might have been able to quickly build up their power through the demonic art, rumors would have spread long ago, and they would have become public enemies of the martial world.
But because it was the north, they had been able to build up their power in the shadows until now.
“Hmph. You’re making a lot of sense today.”
The Beggars’ Sect Leader took a swig of alcohol with an embarrassed face.
Just then, Mokheoja, who had been listening to the conversation from the side, spoke.
“Fellow Taoist Ghost Sword, do you perhaps plan to go to the north?”
“That is correct, Sect Leader.”
“Then, let us join you as well.”
It was a sign that he was ready to step into the secular world in earnest.
Jin Yuseong shook his head.
“You have already heard, have you not? The martial prowess of the Cult Leader and the Great Elder is at a very terrifying level. Also, apart from the Demonic Cult, we need people to remain in the Central Plains and look after the common people.”
“Hahaha. In any case, the elders and I are people who do not have much time left to live. Also, should not we old men be the ones to pay the price for having turned our backs on the secular world for so long?”
It meant that he would entrust the Mount Heng Sect to the young Taoists, including Yeongcheon.
Beyond his carefree eyes, a grim determination could be felt.
At this, Jin Yuseong could not easily dissuade him.
“Thank you very much, Sect Leader.”
***
After finishing their discussion and cleaning up the battlefield, they first returned to Heavenly Sun Village.
“Yuseong!”
Elder Yang welcomed Jin Yuseong and his party, whom he was meeting again after several months.
“I am sorry, Elder. It seems that you have been caught up in this kind of affair because of me.”
“Oh, you boy. What are you talking about? It is those men who are the bad ones. And wasn’t it all thanks to you cleaning up the bad guys that I’ve been able to live comfortably with until now?”
At Elder Yang’s words, Jin Yuseong smiled faintly.
He recalled the words Elder Yang had said in his past life, before his regression.
- Tsk. You boy, is it right to blame the typhoon because your house collapsed in it? You just have to live thinking you were unlucky.
The person who had said such things in the past was now saying something completely different.
He was not trying to blame the person for having changed.
On the contrary, he felt a sense of reward.
Because the elder, who had believed that the world would never change, was now dreaming of a slightly better world.
‘Yes. I cannot stand to see people like the elder suffer unjustly again.’
It was for this reason that he had stepped into the martial world.
And perhaps, from now on, he would have to face the strongest and most trash-like people.
Instead of staying the night in Heavenly Sun Village, Jin Yuseong clasped his hands in a salute to Elder Yang.
“Then, Elder, we will be on our way today.”
“Alright. Be sure to come back.”
“Yes, Elder. I will definitely come back. Hahaha.”
He did not consider it a final farewell.
No, with the intention of definitely returning, he gently pushed the back of Jang Gunsil, who was next to him, forward.
“In that sense, I entrust my disciple to you. As he is still young, it seems it will be difficult for him to join this battle.”
“Hehehe. Do not worry.”
Jang Gunsil, who had somehow ended up coming this far, simply had clear eyes despite the sudden situation.
Jin Yuseong bent his knees to meet Jang Gunsil’s eyes and said.
“Please wait just a little while. I will surely return after this matter is finished.”
“Yes, Master. Then, I will be studying what I have learned from you in the meantime.”
While traveling from Sichuan to this place, Jin Yuseong had verbally explained the basics of martial arts to Jang Gunsil, who was on his back.
And as expected of a genius, Jang Gunsil had perfectly remembered everything he had heard or seen demonstrated over the past few days.
After finishing his farewells, Jin Yuseong turned and left Heavenly Sun Village.
With him were his usual companions, in addition to Shaolin and the Beggars’ Sect, as well as Mokheoja and the old Taoists of the Mount Heng Sect.
***
After traveling for several days, they arrived at the Seomoon Clan.
When they delivered the news to the Seomoon Clan, the Seomoon Clan Head also rose to the occasion.
“So those wicked bastards were hiding there! This Clan Head will also gladly participate in the northern expedition!”
“Father, we will also join you!”
Starting with the young master Seomun Ak, all his children shouted that they would participate in the war.
At that, the Seomoon Clan Head’s face crumpled.
“Be quiet! You are still of the rising generation, so for now, build up your strength in the clan!”
“Father! They say those men are monsters that grow by devouring people! If we lose this battle, there will be no next time anyway! Therefore, we must bet everything on this battle!”
“Ahem! If that is the case, conversely, if you are devoured during the battle, wouldn’t those men become even greater monsters?”
The children could not easily answer their father’s logic.
Except for the youngest son, Seomun Ho.
“Father, if we follow that logic, then there is no chance of winning this battle anyway! Frankly speaking, the realm of that man called the Cult Leader is already at a level that surpasses the Three Venerables, is it not? Everyone will be devoured by him!”
“!?”
Having shouted that, Seomun Ho suddenly looked at Jin Yuseong.
“Great Hero Ghost Sword! You must have something you’re relying on to gather everyone’s strength like this to punish those villains called the Demonic Cult, don’t you?”
It was not that Seomun Ho had noticed some method and was refuting his father’s words.
It was just a belief that the Great Hero Ghost Sword, whom he regarded as his idol, would have some way.
Jin Yuseong, uncharacteristically, looked at Seomun Ho and the clan head with a contemplative expression.
As Seomun Ho had expected, Jin Yuseong had something in mind.
However, he was pondering whether it was right to take the rising generation with them.
Having made his decision, Jin Yuseong let out a faint sigh and opened his mouth.
“You do not need to worry too much about being absorbed by them during battle.”
If it had been just the people of the Seomoon Clan, he would have kept his words to himself.
But the others were also quite shaken by the Seomoon Clan Head’s point.
“The demonic art is not a stable martial art. If they attempt such a thing during a chaotic battle, the risk of falling into cultivation deviation is very high.”
“Then are you saying it is possible after the fight is over?”
At Seomun Ak’s question, Jin Yuseong nodded.
“That is correct.”
Seomun Ak’s gaze turned to the clan head again.
“Father, please permit our participation in the war. If we lose this decisive battle, there is no future anyway.”
After closing his eyes with a grave expression for a moment, the Seomoon Clan Head, having made his decision, opened his eyes and said.
“Alright. Let us stake the life and death of our clan on this expedition.”
Sama Hyeon, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, also smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“Then I shall also head to the north with you.”
At this, not only the Seomoon Clan Head but also the Beggars’ Sect Leader and Jin Yuseong stepped forward to stop him.
“What are you talking about, Teacher Sama?”
“Hey, you punk, if you go with your skills, you won’t escape a dog’s death. You’d be better off staying in the Central Plains and helping people.”
“How about focusing more on teaching the rising generation rather than personally participating in a battle like this?”
At their dissuasion, the corners of Sama Hyeon’s mouth lifted gently.
It was a gentle smile, but a firm will could be felt.
“Consistency between one’s words and actions is a virtue of a gentleman. How can I tell others to strive for chivalry while I alone hide here?”
Before the others could refute him, he maintained his smile and added.
“Also, didn't the Great Hero Ghost Sword say so? That one could fall into cultivation deviation if they absorb a person’s life force with a demonic art during battle. If I die while being devoured, then I have killed him, so have I not done my part as one person? Hahaha.”
“…”
Jin Yuseong, who had been silently looking at Sama Hyeon, let out a faint sigh.
“Haa.”
Persuasion seemed impossible.
Somehow, along with the sigh, a chuckle escaped.
“You are truly consistent.”
Sama Hyeon was like that in his previous life too.
He had willingly striven for what he believed to be right.
In the end, he was killed by Hyeok Ilso, who was called the King of the Underworld.
However, this time, he had no intention of repeating the same thing as back then.
“It is good to have you with us, but do not get excited and charge out like Hwangbo Ak over there.”
At Jin Yuseong’s warning, Sama Hyeon scratched his head as if feigning innocence and replied.
“Hahaha. You seem to think too highly of me, Great Hero Ghost Sword. I am not that brave a man.”
“It is because you seem brave in a different sense.”
Hwangbo Ak was the type to charge out simply because he liked to fight.
On the other hand, Sama Hyeon seemed like the type to throw his own body to save someone if he saw them in danger.
As if they understood the meaning behind Jin Yuseong’s words, everyone burst into laughter.
“Hmph. What is so funny to all of you?”
Except for one person. The one who had become the subject of comparison, Hwangbo Ak.