Enshrinement as a God

"Before other things are drawn by the smell of blood, let's hurry,"

At Agong's urgent voice, Zhao Wei and the Slender Moon Squad sheathed their swords and followed him.

The swarming beasts were merely a nuisance, but this was the Hermit's Valley, one of the three great forbidden zones of the martial world.

For the sake of the mission, it was right to be cautious about what needed caution and to avoid situations that would take time.

Agong wanted to escape this cursed place immediately.

But since he had decided to be with them anyway, the shortcut to getting out of here was to help them achieve their goal as quickly as possible.

"From here on, I don't know the way either."

The fog had already become so thick that it was impossible to see an inch ahead with the naked eye.

Not only for Agong, who had a good sense of direction, but also for the three men, whose eyesight was far superior to ordinary people due to their martial arts training, it was nearly impossible to find their way through such fog.

Moreover, at some point, their sense of direction began to dull, and they even felt a sense of anxiety that they might get lost here if they made a mistake.

"Agong."

At Zhao Wei's call, Agong came to his side.

Seeing that he hadn't been left to die or abandoned in the situation just before, Agong had developed a small amount of trust in Zhao Wei.

Not only that, but the martial arts he had seen with his own eyes were enough to make young Agong's heart pound and feel a sense of respect.

"As promised, you will join the Slender Moon Squad. When we return to the sect, you will receive the seal of the Slender Moon Squad and formally learn the martial arts of our sect. If... an unintended situation arises, you will still be remembered as a brother of the Slender Moon Squad."

At first, Agong had no particular interest in martial arts, but after seeing the martial prowess of Zhao Wei and the Slender Moon Squad, it was true that he had become interested in something called martial arts.

He wasn't sure if the 'sect' really meant a castle, but in any case, it was as good as having his safety guaranteed now.

'Let's learn the martial arts and watch the situation for now.'

They were the ones who had threatened him with his own life in the first place.

Just because he had become interested in martial arts didn't mean he had any loyalty to risk his life for the Slender Moon Squad.

If he learned martial arts, it wouldn't be difficult to leave the place after carefully assessing the situation.

Even now, if a dangerous situation arose, he was thinking of running away without looking back.

"Yes."

All sorts of thoughts came to his mind, but Agong's answer was simple.

There was no other answer he could give anyway.

"I don't know what dangers lie ahead, so I will teach you one of our sect's cultivation methods."

"Now?"

Martial arts cultivation methods were the most common way for martial artists to build their internal energy.

However, one could only benefit from a cultivation method by practicing it consistently.

Therefore, learning a cultivation method right now wouldn't be of much help.

But since Zhao Wei had taken the initiative to speak, there was no reason for Agong to refuse.

Zhao Wei had Agong sit down and taught him the divine art's cultivation method.

After about half a meal's time of instruction, Zhao Wei directly infused his true energy into Agong's Mingmen acupoint.

When everything was over, Agong stood up with a flushed expression.

Thinking that he had learned some martial arts, he felt a surge of confidence and strength.

A member of the Slender Moon Squad who was watching the scene carefully sent a telepathic message to Zhao Wei (a secret way of conversing in the martial world).

[Is it by any chance the True Heart Auxiliary Method?]

Zhao Wei did not answer.

For a moment, the Slender Moon Squad member's expression wavered slightly.

The True Heart Auxiliary Method was a type of demonic cultivation method designed for the lowest-ranking warriors.

As is characteristic of demonic martial arts, once one learns this cultivation method, it seems that one's energy accumulates quickly and one gains great power in an instant.

However, the reason for its rapid effect is that it consumes the original true energy, which can be said to be the root of life.

Not only that, but the True Heart Auxiliary Method was a martial art created with reference to the martial arts of the Blood Cult, which they had fought against in a great war in the past, and was designed for mutual destruction in case of emergency.

Now that they had arrived at the Hermit's Valley, they didn't know what dangers lay ahead.

Therefore, Zhao Wei had taught Agong the cultivation method for no other reason than to use him as bait if an unbearable danger arose.

[That is a cruel thing to do.]

[He will die honorably as a member of the Slender Moon Squad. If he returns alive, we will accept him with the courtesy of a brother.]

Zhao Wei's heart was not at ease either, but now that they had reached their destination, it was a great burden to bring along Agong, who was of no help.

It was natural for Zhao Wei to prioritize the success of the mission over his conscience or guilt.

And that was the mindset that a member of the Slender Moon Squad should have.

"Leader, we can't see an inch ahead. What should we do now?"

As the Slender Moon Squad member said, the fog was now so thick that it was difficult to distinguish objects unless they were right in front of their noses.

"The First Moon Elder predicted everything and lent me this."

Zhao Wei took out an item he had been cherishing.

It was a kind of hand mirror, an old object with an ornate pattern engraved on it.

When Zhao Wei held the hand mirror, the mirror emitted a faint light and began to shine its light somewhere.

"Wow!"

Agong, surprised by the strange sight he had never seen before, let out a cry of admiration.

It was a mysterious scene that surprised not only Agong but also the members of the Slender Moon Squad.

Where the light lingered, the fog began to thin on its own, and then it completely disappeared.

Zhao Wei strode forward, following the light from the mirror.

Now, the Slender Moon Squad naturally took the lead, and Agong followed behind them.

The more they walked, the thicker the surrounding fog became, and the smell of sulfur and the strong scent of grass made their heads spin.

The trees grew so tall that their tops could not be seen, and the wildly grown grass was lush and dense.

After wandering in the fog for a while, they naturally moved up the mountain.

Perhaps because he had just learned the cultivation method, Agong felt a surge of energy in his tired body.

'So this is what martial arts is.'

To gain such a great effect with just a breathing technique called a cultivation method that he had barely learned, he felt he could vaguely understand why people committed murder and hundreds died for the sake of martial arts.

Although he couldn't see well due to the fog, he felt that his eyesight had also improved a little.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

From outside the fog, a sound that could be either the wind or an animal was heard intermittently.

There is nothing more terrifying than the unknown.

Agong, whose senses were sharper than usual, felt his hair stand on end at the unidentified sound.

The Slender Moon Squad was also not letting down their guard.

Although Zhao Wei was guiding the way with the mysterious mirror, the dangers around them had not disappeared.

"Leader, but isn't this strange?"

"What is?"

"A place like this should be untouched by human hands, but the path we are on now seems as if someone has made it."

As the Slender Moon Squad member said, the path they were walking on was not well-maintained, but it was trimmed enough to be passable without difficulty.

Zhao Wei also found that point strange.

It is difficult to make a path for the first time, but it is even more difficult to maintain it.

This is because it requires constant maintenance.

Anyone could see that the path they were walking on was clearly man-made.

It was clear that the path was in use, as there was no grass growing around it, which would have been the case if it had been made a long time ago, and judging by its width, it was wide enough for a carriage to pass.

The fact that there was a road deep in the mountains was strange enough, but the fact that it was in the Hermit's Valley, of all places, made him even more concerned.

However, the fact that there was a path also meant that they were heading in the right direction towards their destination.

Thus, the four of them followed the path and walked for a long time through the thick fog.

"Leader, there is something over there."

It was not clearly visible due to the thick fog, but the light from the hand mirror that Zhao Wei was holding was pointing exactly somewhere.

Strangely, the more they walked in that direction, the fainter the pungent smell of sulfur became, and the thick fog that filled the surroundings also gradually thinned.

Once their vision was secured, the members of the Slender Moon Squad, who had high martial arts skills, were the first to be able to grasp the surroundings.

"Huh?"

The Slender Moon Squad, without exception, squinted their eyes at the shadow that was revealed in the thinning fog.

It took them a moment to accept that what they were seeing was not a hallucination but a real situation.

"A tavern?"

In place of the speechless Zhao Wei, Agong asked a question that no one could answer.

They doubted their own eyes.

They had discovered a building that existed in a place where it simply could not be.

And it was unmistakably a tavern, with a sign that clearly read 'Mountain Sea Tavern'.

"What, what is this..."

It was difficult to think normally in such an unrealistic situation.

At first, they thought they were seeing a hallucination, but the more they walked, the more it became clear that the building in front of them was undoubtedly a tavern that could be found in any city.

"Unbelievable..."

Zhao Wei briefly doubted whether this was indeed the Hermit's Valley, but the Hidden Path Mirror, the hand mirror lent to him by the sect's elder, was pointing exactly at this tavern.

The members of the Slender Moon Squad looked at Zhao Wei.

The judgment of their leader, Zhao Wei, was more important than ever.

"We're going in."

If reclusive masters who had turned their backs on the martial world were gathered in the Hermit's Valley, then perhaps this tavern was their residence, or perhaps it held some information about the Black Qilin.

No, even if none of that was the case, as long as the mirror's light was pointing to it, they couldn't ignore it.

Jingle, jingle.

A clear sound that shook their eardrums came from the beaded curtain at the entrance.

The inside of the tavern, which they entered cautiously, was not very spacious, but it was quite well-decorated.

However, no matter how hard they looked, they couldn't see a single customer, let alone a clerk, inside the tavern.

"Is there no one here?"

"No, it's too clean for that."

If it were an abandoned or uninhabited place, the inside of the tavern would not be so cleanly organized.

"Who's there!"

Feeling someone's presence on the second floor of the tavern, the Slender Moon Squad immediately drew their swords.

"Youngsters, drawing your weapons inside a tavern. A fine thing you're doing."

On the second floor of the tavern, an old man, fiddling with his beard, was leaning on the railing and looking down at the Slender Moon Squad and Agong.

The old man was wearing white clothes and had his head wrapped in a turban, and he didn't even blink an eye as he looked at the murderous appearance of the Slender Moon Squad with his dull eyes.

"Are you the owner of this tavern?"

Zhao Wei instantly raised his internal energy throughout his body.

There was definitely no presence when they entered the tavern.

None of the Slender Moon Squad had noticed that old man appearing above their heads.

Not even the world-renowned Slender Moon Squad and their leader, himself!

Zhao Wei felt a sense of tension for the first time in a long time.

It was clear at a glance that the old man was a master.

And a master who surpassed Zhao Wei...

"Owner, my ass... I'm the cook who works in the kitchen."

The old man had a foul mouth.

The old man, who identified himself as the cook, snorted at the Slender Moon Squad, who still hadn't let down their guard.

"If you youngsters don't want to be sliced up early, put away your swords. If the old monster finds out you've drawn your swords in the tavern, your necks will be ripped out as a group."

"What kind of place is this?"

"It's been a while since we've had guests, but you're a bunch of dimwits. Coming to a tavern and asking what kind of place it is."

The old man, who was clicking his tongue, found Agong, who was huddled in a corner of the tavern, watching the situation.

"Tsk, so it's you."

"Yes?"

"The old monster will be back soon, so don't bother me and ask him."

The old man, clicking his tongue, replied bluntly, turned around, and went into the kitchen.

"What should we do?"

"...We wait."

As the situation took a strange turn, the members of the Slender Moon Squad sheathed their swords and sat down in the tavern.

It felt as if they were possessed by a ghost.

Clatter.

A moment later, a door opened on the second floor of the tavern, and someone appeared.

"Is he the owner of the tavern?"

The man who appeared this time was a man who looked to be in his forties, dressed as a scholar.

When his eyes met with the Slender Moon Squad, he greeted them politely.

"I am a scholar staying here."

In the martial world, there were often martial artists who looked like scholars who only read books on the outside but displayed powerful martial arts.

However, Zhao Wei could tell at a glance that this scholar was not a martial artist who had learned martial arts.

But it was truly a mysterious thing.

How could a scholar, not even a martial artist, be staying in the Hermit's Valley, a forbidden zone of the martial world, and in such a mysterious tavern at that?

"You've arrived, Old Ancestor."

The scholar politely bowed towards the back of them.

It felt like a cold wind was blowing from behind.

There was definitely not a single breeze in the tavern, but it felt as if a cold wind had lingered on their backs and then left.

"Oops, I'm a little late."

"!"

An old man in a yellow robe was standing in front of them as they sprang up and turned around, giving them an awkward smile.

"Welcome. I am Hongjun of the Mountain Sea Tavern.”

(End of Chapter)