Chapter 176
So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi clicked their tongues at the intelligence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The two had previously raided Nam Dae-in's house and had repeatedly tried to find the White Lotus Cult that had taken root in Sichuan, but they could not catch their tail.
But Wi-ji Chan had somehow managed to find the headquarters of the Sichuan cult branch.
"Brother Chan. If it's San-eum-gol, Pyeongmu-hyeon, Sichuan... it's quite a distance."
"That's right."
"But that information... is it certain?"
"It should be certain. It was found after several months of investigation while you were away from our cult and had returned to the Martial Alliance, so it's clear. Of course, since they are very cautious brats, it won't be easy to find their tracks."
At Wi-ji Chan's words, So-ah's gaze was directed at the empty air.
He seemed to be deep in thought about something.
But then, soon,
"Brother Chan. Let's do this."
"Huh?"
"Please leave the Sichuan cult branch to me and Brother Woo-chi."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You said that the Sichuan cult branch is not a central cult branch of the White Lotus Cult, such as producing demonic beasts. So, there won't be any problem in breaking their heads, right? Besides, if it's a cell organization, they will surely hide the moment we raid Pyeongmu-hyeon. Because they are like rats."
At a glance, even in Wi-ji Chan's thought, So-ah's words had a point and the argument was clear.
"That's true, but..."
But he could not readily give an answer.
Because he was reluctant to leave the matter to only So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi.
But.
"Brother Chan. This is not a problem to hesitate about. The urgent matter is the Gansu cult branch. You said it, brother. There's that, what is it? There's an imugi that looks like it's about to become a dragon, and there are also plenty of spider brats like the Great Lineage Human-Faced Spider that seem to have lived for thousands of years, right? Then it's right to deal with the Gansu cult branch first. Besides, the injuries of the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult are not light, right?"
"So-ah..."
Wi-ji Chan was startled.
Although he did not want to complain and had not said anything, the minds and bodies of the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were also in a state of considerable exhaustion.
Because after So-ah had fainted, they had to get rid of the remaining 40 or so Ghost Demon Jiangshi.
Even that was a relief because the monks of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall and Jeon Woo-chi's spell were specialized in catching demonic beasts, and it was close to an impossible task with just true martial power.
"You should rest here for a day or two and then leave for Gansu. Then you will arrive in Gansu at about the same time. In terms of mobility, that's better."
"I don't know if it's possible. We can arrive quickly if we go straight to Gansu, but you and Sir Jeon will have to break the Sichuan cult branch in Pyeongmu-hyeon and take a considerable detour to come to Gansu."
"Brother Chan. If we're going to be late, it's better for just me and Brother Woo-chi to be late. You and the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult will be the backbone of the vanguard, so it's right for you to go and be a source of strength."
"That's true."
"And! Even if we take a slight detour, don't worry about that part. Because me and Brother Woo-chi are very fast."
"Are you talking about the lightness skill?"
"No."
"Then?"
"Because we have the carpet flying skill. Haha."
The corners of So-ah's lips curled up slightly.
***
After a simple meeting, the group gathered at the Emei Sect decided on their respective paths.
Wi-ji Chan and the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Furthermore, Myo-seon and the disciples of the Emei Sect would focus on recovery for a few days and then head to the Gansu cult branch to join the vanguard, while So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi would subjugate the Sichuan cult branch and then follow them to Gansu...
In fact, this was not decided by coordinating opinions through a meeting, but was close to So-ah's unilateral notification.
Of course.
'Who can break So-ah's stubbornness? Ugh!'
Myo-seon was like that, and Wi-ji Chan also knew that once So-ah had set his mind on something, he would never bend, so he had just followed along.
"So-ah. If things go well, it will be an unparalleled good decision, but if not, I won't be able to bear it because my heart will be uncomfortable. Are you really planning to go with just Sir Jeon Woo-chi?"
Wi-ji Chan once again asked So-ah's intention.
At that.
"Phew! Brother Chan. You said it, brother. From now on, all the people in the world will point to me as the top master of the martial world. What's there to worry about when the top master of the martial world and the best Taoist of the martial world are accompanying each other?"
'Huh? What's with that brat?'
The best Taoist of the martial world that So-ah was talking about was, of course, Jeon Woo-chi.
Although Jeon Woo-chi was bewildered by the unexpected praise, he shrugged his shoulders as if he was not in a bad mood.
Of course, as soon as So-ah's words about the best Taoist of the martial world fell, the monks of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall shot him a sharp glare.
'Sorcerers are all the same. Their competitive spirit is no joke. Haha.'
Just as So-ah, who seemed to know their intentions, was grinning.
Wi-ji Chan, as if he did not want to urge So-ah anymore, just patted his shoulder and said.
"Yes. With your and Sir Jeon Woo-chi's abilities, the Sichuan cult branch... it won't be a problem. Then I will take Lady Myo-seon and go to Gansu first to join the vanguard. Don't overdo it, and follow slowly, So-ah."
"Just you wait. If things go well, I might even arrive in Gansu first."
"Haha, is that carpet flying skill really that fast?"
At Wi-ji Chan's words, Jeon Woo-chi's eyes lit up.
It seemed that he wanted to show off his magical tool in front of the monks of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall and at the same time, to prove that the spell of the Udo-bang was greater than the spell of the Central Plains, the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall, by showing off his magical power.
As expected.
"Young Leader Wi-ji. Shall I show you once?"
Jeon Woo-chi asked Wi-ji Chan.
"Ah! Sir Jeon Woo-chi. Then would you show me once?"
Wi-ji Chan also showed his curiosity and his face brightened.
Jeon Woo-chi, thinking that it was a good thing, took out the carpet from his bag without any hesitation.
And then,
He threw the carpet into the air.
At that, the carpet, as if it were a living organism, began to float by itself and emit a faint dazzling light.
At that mysterious sight, not only Wi-ji Chan, but also the eyes of the disciples of the Emei Sect widened with surprise...
'Hehe. It's still too early to be surprised.'
Jeon Woo-chi soon jumped up and sat on the carpet, and the moment a low murmur from his mouth turned into a spell, the carpet, as if it were cutting through space, burst into a sound of something cutting through the air and sped off.
A refreshing roar burst out.
"Waaaaah!"
"Wow! Sir Jeon Woo-chi, you're amazing!"
"So cool!"
Only after hearing the admiration of Wi-ji Chan and the disciples of the Emei Sect did Jeon Woo-chi shake off yesterday's sorrow and humiliation.
"Haha! It's nothing, yes, yes. It's nothing."
Of course, although he was endlessly lowering his ability with his mouth.
'Phew! He's so happy, he's grinning, grinning. But his sulking must have been resolved, right? Anyway, an old man is like a child. Kekeke.'
At Jeon Woo-chi's innocent appearance, So-ah also let out a laugh.
***
"So-ah. Please be safe, okay? See you in Gansu."
"Yes. Anyway, Myo-seon-ah. You worked hard catching the zombies. Looking at your martial arts, I think you can win even if you fight with Master Gwangwon now. Get stronger a little more slowly. You'll catch up with me at this rate."
"More, more nonsense!"
"Hahaha."
"Hohoho."
So-ah, after finishing his greetings with Myo-seon and a simple farewell, set out on his way with Jeon Woo-chi.
The Sichuan cult branch was in San-eum-gol, Pyeongmu-hyeon, Sichuan.
It was quite a distance from Mt. Emei.
Therefore, to save time, the two had to immediately ride the carpet and fly in the sky at full speed.
"Wow! It's fast, so fast! Our Brother Woo-chi is the best!"
So-ah, who was riding the carpet and gently grasping Jeon Woo-chi's waist, joked.
At that.
"Since when was I 'our Brother Woo-chi'? Wasn't your 'our brother' the young leader, Wi-ji Chan?"
Jeon Woo-chi tried to let out a complaint for no reason.
"Oh, come on! You're so petty. I was just happy to see Brother Chan after a long time. Why are you so sulky? You should be over it by now after I've praised you this much. Tsk-tsk."
"Who's sulking, you brat!"
"It's obvious you're sulking. And Brother Woo-chi. From now on, 'our brother' is neither you nor Brother Chan. I have a real older brother, so if I call a stranger 'our brother, our brother', my real brother will be disappointed."
At So-ah's words, Jeon Woo-chi tilted his head.
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Ah! Haven't I told you yet? That I have a real older brother?"
"Are you talking about the great heroes, Jang Beon-pal and Jang Beon-ha?"
"No! The two are my sworn brothers."
"Then?"
"Jin Won-tak. The current head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the imperial court's direct unit."
"What kind of nonsense is that? Are you perhaps hurt in the head? Why is the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard your real older brother? You're an orphan, right?"
"Suddenly? You're attacking the pain of my birth like this?"
"Aww! Be quiet. It's confusing. Is this the right way? I just have to go straight like this, right?"
Jeon Woo-chi thought that So-ah was talking useless nonsense.
His usual behavior was also like that.
Therefore, he decided to ignore So-ah's words about his real older brother and to focus on his flying skill...
'Haha, Brother Woo-chi will be shocked later, right?'
Thus, as usual, while bickering, the carpet carrying the two cut through the sky of Sichuan like a tiger.
***
San-eum-gol, Pyeongmu-hyeon, Sichuan—
So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi were able to reach their destination in just two days.
Just before entering the village, the two set up a plan to break up the Sichuan cult branch, and that plan was this.
—Brother Woo-chi. Although it's a small village, if we search the village like we're looking for a needle in a haystack, on the contrary, the brats will disappear without a trace.
—How should we approach it? Since we have no way of knowing the exact location of the cult branch.
—Let's act.
—Huh?
—We will become the missionaries of the Maitreya Blood God. Kekekek. Then, will the brats not reveal their identity and hold out? Of course they will approach us.
—I knew you were smart, but... you're amazing, so amazing! You're a really scary brat, Jin So-ah.
So-ah's plan was to throw a bait and make the White Lotus Cult reveal themselves.
As a result.
"Believe in the Maitreya Blood God and be saved!"
"On the day the Maitreya Blood God descends on the human world, the heavens and the earth will be overturned, so believe in the Maitreya Blood God and be saved!"
Jeon Woo-chi had to act like a madman who was obsessed with a heretical religion for the first time in his life.
But.
Acting was a really funny thing.
At first, it was very uncomfortable to not only perform a disguise art, but also to wear a white robe and talk nonsense to the passersby.
But as he did it, wasn't it surprisingly fun?
'Ah! This is the taste of why So-ah always acts.'
"Believe in the Maitreya Blood God and be saved! Hey! Young man! Would you like to believe in the Maitreya Blood God once?"
Jeon Woo-chi, who had disguised himself as a middle-aged man, on the contrary, performed his acting divine art more passionately than So-ah.
To the point where it was a bit too much...
'Clumsy, so clumsy. He's still a long way from following me.'
So-ah, while clicking his tongue at Jeon Woo-chi, felt a strange sense of competition.
Going one step further than Jeon Woo-chi, So-ah, who had performed a disguise art as an old man, his voice became louder, his gestures became more bizarre, and his lines became so childish that it made one doubt their ears.
"The world is collapsing! Everyone, believe in the Maitreya Blood God and be saved! Hey! You there. Yes. I'm talking to you. Come here. I see with my insight that there is a demon in your head. There is only one way to get rid of the demon. It is to crush your head."
So-ah, who was acting out a low-level proselytizing that did not make sense.
In the end, he got into a fight with a passerby with a bad temper.
"Is the old man crazy? What? Crush my head? Do you want to die?"
"Kehkehkeh! As befits a person with a demon, you have a bad temper. If you do that, you'll get a bloody... no! Won't you join our cult? Then the demon will also disappear!"
Seeing that sight, Jeon Woo-chi was really fed up.
'What on earth is that all about? My goodness!'
There was no way that would work.
Seeing So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi, who were proselytizing with strange and bizarre disguises, far from attracting passersby, there were even people who threw salt and cursed at them.
But.
The effect of this embarrassing operation was great.
One shichen after they had set up a place in the marketplace where many people came and went and had been shouting about the Maitreya Blood God.
Finally, a bite came!
"Who are you brats? I haven't seen you before. Are you perhaps from another cult branch?"
A man with a harsh impression, who looked suspicious at a glance, approached and opened his mouth.
"That's right. We were at the Gansu cult branch, and three months ago, we left the Central Plains to proselytize."
So-ah used his wit to respond to such a man.
"Are you in your right mind? Didn't you receive the official document? For now, we must completely forbid proselytizing and hide our identity while holding our breath. What kind of proselytizing are you doing when you can't even judge the situation!"
At that.
"Kehkeh! What's the use of the situation when we are spreading the mercy of the Maitreya Blood God? But who are you to say this to me?"
"I am the messenger of the Sichuan cult branch."
I got you, you brat!
"You are the messenger of the Sichuan cult branch, and you dare to treat this old man like this? Tsk-tsk. It seems that there is a demon in your head..."
"W-What?"
"Hey, Deputy Chief Jeon."
"...?"
"Crush this man's head with an iron mace!"
(End of Chapter)