Chapter 12 : Infiltration
Chapter 12: Infiltration
Qinghai Province.
Tang Cheolsim, known as the Poison Dragon of the Tang Clan, was stroking his chin while observing the unexpectedly lively atmosphere of Qinghai.
He had arrived in Qinghai to carry out the Murim Alliance's orders to monitor the movements of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"I thought the atmosphere would be grim since it is right under the nose of Xinjiang, but people live here just the same as anywhere else."
"Did you expect it to be crawling with demonic practitioners?"
Tang Cheolsim nodded at the question from Cheong Un, a rising star of the Kunlun Sect.
"I assumed so, since one must pass through Qinghai to cross from the Demonic Cult into the Central Plains."
"It has been quite a while since the Great War between Orthodox and Demons ended, so I still wonder why the Alliance issued this mission even to the Tang Clan."
"It is likely to keep the Demonic Cult in check, but also to keep the Tang Clan in check."
The current Murim Alliance was formed by the powers of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans.
Though they belonged to the Alliance, the members were still people of their own respective families and sects.
Each of the Five Great Clans wanted to become the greatest clan under heaven, and each of the Nine Sects wanted to be the first among the nine.
Among them, the Tang Clan of Sichuan was currently a sect that was doing exceptionally well.
Tang Cheolsim believed that the Alliance had dispatched members of the Tang Clan to the Demonic Cult specifically to keep the Tang Clan in check.
'They want me to rot in Qinghai for a while.'
The Murim Grand Assembly was scheduled to be held by the Alliance soon.
It was clear that the Five Great Clans had moved to prevent the Tang Clan from dominating the assembly.
"Is it politics?"
"Something like that. Cheong Un, it seems there is no such pressure on you."
"Brother Tang, don't you also know that Kunlun is treated as being on the periphery?"
"We share a similar fate, then."
"In reality, the Demonic Cult bastards have rarely made a move, so just relax and prepare for the Murim Grand Assembly."
"I cannot do that. The fact that the Alliance dispatched the Tang Clan to Qinghai means they want me to produce some kind of result."
Rather, Tang Cheolsim actually hoped for the Demonic Cult to stir.
"Crossing over into Xinjiang first would be out of the question, right?"
"Brother Tang."
"I am joking."
Cheong Un’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Tang Cheolsim joking with a face that did not look like he was joking at all.
It was famous that the Poison Dragon of the Tang Clan had a reckless streak.
If he caused an accident alone, it might create a very difficult situation for the Kunlun Sect.
— Un, you must watch the Young Lord of the Tang Clan closely so that he does not cause trouble.
Cheong Un remembered the command of the Sect Leader of Kunlun.
* * *
"Why did we visit the medicinal storage?"
"For the sake of a perfect crime."
Sa Hyeongseol stared at Dan Woojin with trembling pupils.
He never imagined that he would have killed the Eldest Young Master already.
According to the information, the Eldest Young Master was known to have entered his quarters.
After using Bone Melting Powder to cleanly dissolve the corpses of Jang Cheol and the Eldest Young Master, the Seventh Young Master explained what had happened to Sa Hyeongseol through voice transmission.
'Playing two roles by himself.'
This fact was surprising, but Sa Hyeongseol was more amazed by the sight of Dan Woojin, who did not even blink an eye after killing the Eldest Young Master.
— Why are you so surprised? To become the Young Cult Leader, you eventually have to kill them all.
If a third party had heard it, they would surely have cursed it as groundless overconfidence.
However, Sa Hyeongseol, who had personally witnessed the corpse of the Eldest Young Master, could be certain of one thing.
'A person who must never be made into an enemy.'
Regardless of how Sa Hyeongseol viewed him.
Dan Woojin was thinking about the opponents he had to face.
'The Tang Clan of Sichuan huh,'
The most troublesome ones among the spies of the Murim Alliance dispatched to Qinghai were the poison users of the Tang Clan.
That was why Dan Woojin visited the medicinal storage of the Heavenly Demon Cult together with Sa Hyeongseol, the Young Sect Leader of the Poison Demon Sect.
"Phew, I've gathered everything."
"You aren't planning to poison all the spies in Qinghai, are you?"
“Who knows."
It might be impossible to use poison against martial artists with the poison arts he had just mastered.
Especially if the opponent was a person of the Tang Clan.
Nevertheless, the reason Dan Woojin gathered poison and medicinal herbs was,
'To avoid being victimized.'
Let's recall the personalities of the other siblings.
Eldest Young Master Dan Cheolwoo has already been dealt with.
Second Young Master Dan Hyunwoo, led by the Sword Demon Sect, would be lucky if he didn't just storm into Kunlun to protect Qinghai with a forceful response.
Third Young Lady Dan Soso will likely try to move together with the Sixth Young Lady Dan Youngyoung.
Fourth Young Master Dan Shinhyeok, who insists on one-on-one combat, will first investigate who the individuals dispatched from the Murim Alliance are.
Fifth Young Master Dan Yuun is the type of bastard who won't care about the Cult Leader's trial at all and will move as the situation flows.
"Please tell me the strategy, so that I can prepare as well."
"What preparation?"
"Mental preparation."
He looked back at Sa Hyeongseol at the absurd answer.
"Is there a problem?"
"...No."
"But Seventh Young Master, is it truly alright for just the two of us to go?"
"It's not a problem."
In any case, the conditions for passing the Cult Leader's trial were fixed.
'Who performed most actively.'
Based on the memories of the past, the one who showed the most prominent results in this trial was the Second Young Master, Dan Hyunwoo.
At the same time, the ones who suffered the most damage were Dan Hyunwoo's group.
'It would have been an experience where he learned that rushing in recklessly is not the best way.'
During his days as Am Yeong, since he did not know who would be confirmed as the Young Cult Leader, Am Yeong always checked the information of the six candidates except for the Seventh Young Master.
"Did you check the movements of the other six Demonic Sects?"
"Yes. Except for the Sword Demon Sect and the Fist Demon Sect, the Sound Demon Sect, Saber Demon Sect, Bow Demon Sect, and Spear Demon Sect have not shown any particular movement yet."
"That's enough then. We must arrive in Qinghai before the Second Brother rushes in recklessly. Let's run!"
As Dan Woojin took the lead by unfolding his movement technique, Sa Hyeongseol began to follow behind him.
* * *
"What about the Eldest Young Master?"
"There is still no movement."
"Hmm, does he think he can afford to be leisurely?"
The Second Young Master Dan Hyunwoo exited the Heavenly Demon Cult along with the Young Sect Leader of the Sword Demon Sect, Seo Moonyul, while keeping an eye on the Eldest Young Master's movements.
"My brothers are all moving busily I see."
The Third Young Lady, Dan Soso, made her appearance.
"Is it alright to be this relaxed?"
Standing beside her was a man stroking a massive spear.
"My brother is going to protect me anyway, isn't he?"
"Hm, that's also true."
"Fufu, thank you. I've lessened my worries thanks to Brother Heonwon."
Dan Soso, wearing a seductive smile as if she had no worries at all, rose from her seat.
"Brother, when will the information from the Spear Demon Sect arrive?"
As soon as Dan Soso finished speaking,
"Young Sect Leader."
Someone approached the man.
Upon seeing that, Dan Soso wore a bright smile.
Dan Soso was thoroughly utilizing the Seven Great Demon Sects.
Having captured the heart of the Young Sect Leader of the Spear Demon Sect, Heonwon Geuk, Dan Soso was obtaining information through the Spear Demon Sect before leaving for Qinghai.
"It is news that the Tang Clan members have arrived in Kunlun."
"The Tang Clan...!"
"And they say the Young Sect Leader of the Poison Demon Sect moved together with the Seventh Young Master."
Dan Soso tilted her head at Heonwon Geuk's answer.
"The youngest and the Young Sect Leader of the Poison Demon Sect? Together?"
"That's right."
"He moves as if he's become a different person after going in and out of the Demonic Cave. Our youngest."
Dan Soso's gaze became a bit distant.
"Soso?"
"Yes, Brother. Since the youngest has moved, we must move quickly as well."
Because any questions could be resolved in Qinghai.
* * *
Qinghai Province, Kunlun Mountain.
Dan Hyunwoo was moving together with the Young Sect Leader of the Sword Demon Sect, Seo Moonyul.
"Yul."
"Yes, Second Young Master."
"We shouldn't just push into Kunlun like this, should we?"
"The Cult Leader did tell us to wipe out the forces of the Murim Alliance, but he did not tell us to sweep away Kunlun."
"I know that. But that's the most certain way, isn't it?"
He truly was a person who didn't look back.
Since he was the son of the Cult Leader, it was understandable.
However, unless the Sword Demon Sect was moved as a whole, hitting Kunlun had to be seen as practically impossible.
Seo Moonyul wondered once again if choosing to join the Second Young Master was a good decision.
In any case, he knew that the Eldest Young Master Dan Cheolwoo was not fit for the position of Young Cult Leader.
The person who would become the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult must be strong.
Among the seven children of the Cult Leader, the strongest was the Second Young Master, Dan Hyunwoo.
It was only a pity that he had somewhat extreme tendencies.
"Are you saying we should ambush Kunlun?"
"Ah, fine, fine. I know now that if Yul has that kind of expression, it's better not to do it. Hmm, then what should I bring for the Cult Leader to acknowledge me?"
The most certain thing was already decided.
The head of the enemy commander.
He didn't know who it was, but if it was someone dispatched from the Murim Alliance, they would be famous, and if he brought back their head, the Cult Leader would acknowledge him.
However, if it was rumored that the one who killed them was the son of the Heavenly Demon,
'This single trial might lead to a Great War between Orthodox and Demons.'
As a demonic practitioner, it was natural to welcome war.
Perhaps the Cult Leader himself also desired war.
However, the one who had to make the choice to carry that out was not Seo Moonyul.
"Second Young Master, I’m asking just in case... Do you have any intention of conducting this trial secretly?"
"Secretly? What is that? Is it something you eat?"
Seo Moonyul let out a sigh.
"Please tell me the plan. I will follow."
"As expected, I like Yul because you're straightforward. First, if we can't hit Kunlun, let's cause some stir in Qinghai."
Grin—
Seeing Dan Hyunwoo wearing a mad smile with a bright expression, Seo Moonyul thought this expedition would not be easy.
"Hmm?"
It was then.
"Second Young Master."
"What?"
"Someone is approaching."
He felt someone's presence.
Since they were up on Kunlun Mountain, there was a probability it was a Taoist of the Kunlun Sect.
As he glanced back at the Second Young Master.
"Yul, surely you aren't telling me to avoid them now?"
Seo Moonyul sighed once again and drew his sword.
"Let's check who it is before you kill them."
"Of course."
"To come to Kunlun Mountain wearing black clothes, who are you people?"
Seo Moonyul looked at the opponent who appeared.
If it were a Taoist, they would have been wearing a Taoist robe, but the opponent was wearing green clothes.
Seo Moonyul, who had already been to the Central Plains, immediately realized which family the opponent wearing green clothes belonged to and muttered.
"......Tang Clan?"
"I asked who you are."
It was troublesome.
The thought that it would be better to retreat immediately dominated his mind.
It was common knowledge among demonic practitioners that the poison the Tang Clan bastards sprayed was difficult to handle unless one was from the Poison Demon Sect.
The important thing was,
"I am Dan Hyunwoo. And you?"
The fact was that the Second Young Master Dan Hyunwoo was a bastard for whom common sense did not apply.
"Dan surname...? What is your relationship with the Demonic Cult Leader?"
"He is my father."
Shudder.
At those words, the green clothes fluttered.
"Second Young Master!"
But, before that.
Slice—!
The Second Young Master's sword was faster.
"Oh dear."
Looking at the Tang Clan member whose head had fallen, Seo Moonyul's mind spun rapidly.
"What, they're this weak?"
"Second Young Master, let's leave this place for now."
"Why?"
"We are drawing them out."
"Ah, got it."
Under Seo Moonyul's judgment that they would be finished the moment they were surrounded if the opponent was the Tang Clan, the two moved.
As the two disappeared down Kunlun Mountain in an instant,
"Dan Hyunwoo. I'm sorry, but the picture you want will never come out."
Dan Woojin, who had been hiding, revealed himself and began to strip the clothes off the dead green-clad corpse.
Rustle, rustle—
Dan Woojin, who had quickly changed into the green clothes, sprinkled Bone Melting Powder on the corpse and then picked up the fallen head.
And then.
Tear—
He ripped off the face.
"I'll use this well."
By layering the man's face he had torn off in an instant with skin.
He put on the human skin mask.
Then.
It looked as if the green-clad man whose head had fallen just a moment ago was moving alive again.
It truly left no trace.