Chapter 70
A night shrouded in thick darkness.
Under the moonlight, a man in black approached the pondering Wi-ji Chan and performed a respectful cupped fist salute.
“Young Cult Leader.”
“Grand Commander. Have you found anything?”
“We were able to get a tail on one.”
Wi-ji Chan had received a mission from the Cult Leader.
It was an investigation into the Unorthodox Path sects that had recently been disappearing one by one, and Wi-ji Chan had entrusted the matter to his direct subordinate, the Heavenly Spirit Corps.
The Heavenly Spirit Corps, a group skilled in stealth and infiltration, was able to dig up one clear and distinct clue in a short amount of time.
“…What is it?”
“Do you know of the Black Water Sect?”
“Isn’t that a group of gangsters?”
“That is correct. But thanks to the outstanding martial arts of the sect leader, Wu Ma-gun, and their solid finances, they have risen rapidly in the past few years and have become a somewhat famous Unorthodox Path sect.”
“But why them…?”
“The intelligence is that there is a force behind the Black Water Sect.”
“Where is that?”
“It is the ‘White Lotus Cult’ that was mentioned in the cult’s meeting.”
“Ah…!”
Wi-ji Chan let out a low exclamation.
“Currently, a figure from the White Lotus Cult is the de facto master of the Black Water Sect, and the sect leader is said to follow his orders.”
“How did you obtain such internal information?”
“We kidnapped a Black Water Sect executive, cast a hypnotic spell, and recorded his testimony.”
“Hmm… then it must be reliable information… the Black Water Sect and the White Lotus Cult…”
As Wi-ji Chan stroked his chin and pondered.
The Heavenly Spirit Corps’s Grand Commander, Hyeon Dong-hwa, continued to speak.
“There is one more thing you should pay attention to.”
“What is it?”
“It is the fact that the Black Water Sect has kidnapped numerous civilians.”
“Isn’t it not surprising for an evil sect to kidnap civilians? I know that they often kidnap people to train them as laborers, prostitutes, and so on. In the past, our cult also did so…”
That was right.
At one time, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had also kidnapped many civilians.
Until the previous Cult Leader, Wi-ji Un, declared himself the Heavenly Demon and abolished the ‘offering ceremony’ to the ‘Heavenly Demon God,’ they had offered living humans as sacrifices.
Also, they had kidnapped orphans, raising the boys as assassins and the girls as prostitutes to accumulate wealth, and on that vile soil, the current Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had borne fruit.
At the small sense of guilt that sprouted in a corner of his heart, Wi-ji Chan felt a sense of bitterness.
‘The Young Cult Leader’s heart is so weak… he must become a strong demon.’
The Heavenly Spirit Corps’s Grand Commander, Hyeon Dong-hwa, was worried.
It was because Wi-ji Chan’s disposition was so soft.
Unlike the previous Cult Leader, Wi-ji Un, who advocated for peace and coexistence, the current Cult Leader was a man with great ambitions.
Someday, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would once again shed blood on the world, and Wi-ji Chan would have to bear the weight of that blood.
Hyeon Dong-hwa was concerned that the Young Cult Leader’s character, which was close to that of an Orthodox Path member, would hold him back in the future.
But,
‘How dare I, it’s an presumptuous thought!’
Hyeon Dong-hwa did not show it.
His role was only to faithfully carry out the orders of the cult.
Any loyalty beyond that was excessive, and that clear boundary between the vertical hierarchy and status was the characteristic, color, and nature of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“It is a common occurrence for evil sects to kidnap civilians. But the Black Water Sect did not kidnap people to make them laborers and prostitutes.”
“Then?”
“Human sacrifice.”
“Yes?!”
“They kidnapped civilians for human sacrifice. Of course, it is still just a guess.”
Wi-ji Chan’s shoulders trembled slightly.
“Grand Commander. Please make arrangements for me to infiltrate the Black Water Sect.”
“Alone, you mean?”
“Yes. In matters like this, the more people involved, the more likely we are to be caught. It must be done secretly.”
“I will do so.”
“Also, Grand Commander, please investigate the White Lotus Cult a little more.”
“As you command!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the figure of the Heavenly Spirit Corps’s Grand Commander, Hyeon Dong-hwa, scattered under the moonlight.
***
Liaoning, Moyong Family.
Early morning.
The family members gathered in front of the main gate.
It was to see off the disciples who were leaving for the White Martial Academy.
‘Hwa-ah and Su-ya’s appearances are…’
‘Not good!’
‘How did this happen…’
Worry and concern were deeply etched on the faces of Moyong Baek and Yeon So-so.
The past week.
In that short time, the appearances of Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su had become so haggard.
But even seeing their emaciated appearances, Moyong Baek and the others could only remain silent.
Because the culprit who had made the two look like that was the great disciple, So-ah.
‘Hwa-ah… Su-ya… you must endure and endure again to follow your senior brother! But… why does my heart ache so much. Hohoho!’
Moyong Baek hid his inner thoughts and opened his mouth softly.
“So-ah. Please take good care of Hwa-ah and Su-ya. You two, wherever you are, should always think of your senior brother’s words as my words and follow them. Do you understand?”
‘If I think of it as my father’s words, I won’t listen. Really.’
‘Senior Brother’s words are by no means lighter than the Family Head’s words…’
Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su, who had such thoughts, smiled faintly, but soon performed a respectful cupped fist salute and said their goodbyes with a serious voice.
“Father, Mother. And the elders of the family. We will be back.”
“We will be back!”
“Hoho, alright. Let me know when you arrive at the academy.”
At that, So-ah also bowed his head and opened his mouth.
“We will be back. I will guide and discipline my junior sister and junior brother with all my heart, so please don’t worry. Although they sometimes don’t listen, aren’t they still in the palm of Buddha’s hand? If it doesn’t work, I’ll just use the rod of love to bring them to their senses, so you don’t have to worry at all.”
Although it seemed like he was saying it to relieve the adults’ worries, for some reason, goosebumps appeared on the bodies of Moyong Baek and Yeon So-so who were listening.
‘So-ah… I’m worried about you, you! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have any worries, you brat!’
‘He’s going to kill my daughter, he’s going to kill her. Oh my… So-ah!’
Moyong Baek and Yeon So-so, who had forcibly swallowed the sincerity that was about to come out of their throats, forced a smile and did not forget to give their blessings.
“Hoho… So-ah, please take care.”
“So-ah. Don’t kill them… no, you must always cherish your junior sister and junior brother as your own body, do you understand?”
“Of course! Uncle, Aunt, I will not forget your words. With love! I will treat the two of them.”
What on earth was the love that the senior brother was talking about?
Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su were suddenly scared.
***
From Liaoning to the White Martial Academy was a considerable distance.
Since the academy was located on the border of Shaanxi and Xi’an, it would take two to three months even on a well-trained horse, and at least a month and a half for a martial artist skilled in lightness skill to run without rest.
But So-ah’s group arrived at the White Martial Academy in a whopping twenty days.
It was because Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su, whose stamina had recently increased dramatically, had endured So-ah’s forced march well.
What was surprising was that the complexions of the two, who had been like living corpses after repeating such a forced march, had actually recovered.
This was thanks to the internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp.
If the extreme yang energy had not boosted their internal energy and ki and blood, Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su would have collapsed from exhaustion in the middle.
“Wow! I endured this.”
“That’s right. It was so hard I thought I was going to die, but I feel like my stamina has increased even more through this journey.”
Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su could not hide their surprise, as if they could not believe it themselves.
At that, So-ah said with narrowed eyes.
“You guys are really lucky.”
“What are you trying to say now?”
As Moyong Hwa asked bluntly, So-ah snickered.
“You endured because of the internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp. Otherwise, you would have fainted and collapsed in the middle, and it would have been a mess. You met a great senior brother like me and took an internal dan that you can’t buy even with a thousand gold pieces, so you’re not just lucky, you’re extremely lucky. Isn’t that right?”
Moyong Hwa wanted to shoot back at the bragging So-ah, but she just laughed.
Although it was annoying, it was certainly true, and meeting her senior brother was definitely a heavenly fortune.
“Ah! Alright, whatever. You’re so great. Our senior brother. You’re so great.”
“It sounds like you’re being sarcastic.”
“Of course not. How could I dare to be sarcastic to my senior brother? Yes? Huh? Isn’t that right?”
“You still haven’t come to your senses, my lovely junior sister.”
“Why again…”
“I’ll go to the instructor’s office first, so you guys go to your dorms, unpack, and warm up.”
“What?”
“We have to start training right away.”
“Senior Brother! The official convocation day is still a long way off. Besides, we’ll be the only students who have arrived.”
“What does that matter? Are you going to die if they die? The students are just students, and the Moyong Family is the Moyong Family. This instructor’s training is ‘year-round’.”
‘I knew he would say that.’
‘In the end, is it training again…’
Although their teeth chattered, had Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su also adapted?
The two just nodded their heads and turned their steps towards their respective dorms.
As they say, even a dog at a village school can recite a poem after three years. After rolling around like dogs under So-ah, the persistence of the two seemed to have also entered the realm of the divine.
***
“O-Older Brother?!”
He had been living well for a while.
No, he had been happy.
That is, until he saw the face of that sneering ‘brat’.
Jong Jin-do.
As the first-rate disciple of the Hainan Sect, he had received the expectations of his sect and had proudly entered the White Martial Academy as an instructor, occupying the position of the second-in-command, and had expected to soon take the top spot.
The perfect life of the swordsman, Jong Jin-do, who had been on a high-flying, successful path, had been shattered after meeting So-ah.
And today.
So-ah had appeared again.
Although the official convocation day was still a long way off, why had he appeared so early?
Jong Jin-do, in a state where he could neither laugh nor cry, pretended to be happy to see So-ah.
“Oh! Younger Brother Jong Jin-do. You came early? It seems no other instructors have come yet.”
‘You bastard!’
Jong Jin-do, who had cursed inwardly, forced a smile and acted friendly.
“Hahahat. That’s right, Older Brother. No one has come yet.”
“By the way, Younger Brother. Didn’t you miss me?”
“Yes?!”
“I missed my younger brother so much that you even appeared in my dreams.”
‘This rotten brat, is he playing with me right now?’
His insides boiled.
Leaving aside the anger, he even felt a sense of self-loathing, so Jong Jin-do could no longer act and his face turned red.
“Ahem… I… I did miss you…”
“Why is your face like that? Are you angry about something?”
“Ah… no.”
‘I’ve teased him enough, so I’ve paid the price, right? Haha.’
So-ah also knew Jong Jin-do’s burning insides.
Thinking that this was enough, So-ah patted his shoulder and said.
“Instructor Jong. You must have been very upset having to call a young brat ‘older brother’ all this time, right?”
“Yes…. Yes?!”
“It’s alright now. Just call me So-ah. From now on, I’ll call you older brother.”
“I-Is that true?”
“Yes. The crime of drawing your sword on me that day deserves to be punished a hundred times, but I’m a bit generous. Let’s forget about the past and respect each other as colleagues of the Martial Alliance. Got it?”
“Ah… I understand! I understand, Young Master Jin. Haha… hahahahahat!”
Jong Jin-do burst into a loud laugh.
“Are you that happy, Brother Jong?”
“Of course! Isn’t it obvious? Do you know what kind of self-loathing I felt every time I had to call the young… no, the much younger Young Master Jin ‘older brother’? I wanted to die!”
“Haha, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“No, I was the one who was sorry. Keke!”
“By the way, Brother Jong.”
“Yes, Young Master Jin.”
“Before the final student evaluation, you said that each division would be given an official mission, right?”
“That’s right. As a matter of fact, I also came early to check the mission content of the Heaven Division that I am in charge of.”
“What is the mission of our Human Division?”
“Aha… that’s…”
“Why? Is it a difficult task?”
“I’m not sure if the Head Instructor highly values Young Master Jin’s abilities… or if there are still lingering feelings from the duel with Namgung Mun… but a rather difficult mission has been assigned.”
At Jong Jin-do’s words, So-ah’s brow furrowed.
“So, what is it? Don’t be so frustrating, just tell me quickly, hurry up!”
Jong Jin-do was startled by So-ah’s urging.
‘This brat… his temper is still the same. Really.’
But fearing that an order to serve him as an older brother again would be issued if he said something wrong, he quickly opened his mouth.
“Do you know of the Daemyeong Escort Agency?”
“I do. Isn’t it the escort agency that is called the chaebol of Xi’an?”
“The Daemyeong Escort Agency has made a request to the Martial Alliance. They were robbed of their goods at the Twin Dragon Fortress in Wuzheng Mountain, Henan, and the content is to retrieve the goods and transport them to Shaolin.”
“So?”
“The Human Division has been assigned that mission.”
“Aww. I thought it was something else. It’s so easy, isn’t it? Judging by the name Twin Dragon Fortress, they seem to be just mountain bandit-like people. I’ll just crush their heads. Hehe.”
“Yes?!”
“Why?”
“Young Master Jin… I… by any chance, do you not know?”
“What?”
“The Twin Dragon Fortress is the main fortress of the Green Forest.”
“So?”
“Don’t you know who stays at the main fortress of the Green Forest!”
“A mountain bandit would stay there, right?”
“It’s not just a mountain bandit!”
“If it’s a mountain bandit, it’s a mountain bandit. What’s not just a mountain bandit?”
“The Green Forest Demon Emperor, Jang Beon-pal, is staying at the Twin Dragon Fortress!”
“Jang Beon-pal… I think I’ve heard that name somewhere.”
“Ugh! The Ten Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path, Jang Beon-pal! You really don’t know!”
(End of Chapter)