Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Rrrrrrk!
As the massive wall of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron slowly began to slide sideways, Youngho looked at Muyeon and spoke.
“Slow.”
“It only took one Shijin, you know?”
“It took a whole Shijin.”
“Hey, this is harder than dismantling a formation. How am I supposed to activate it when I don’t even know the principle behind it?”
“So Stench Ghost was only this capable?”
“Just a moment ago you were calling me Mad Dog! I’m only Stench Ghost when it suits you?!”
“Anyway, are you really not going back?”
“Information is precious. Especially information about the Demonic Cult.”
“That just makes it more dangerous. Information is dangerous enough as it is—information about the Demonic Cult, even more so.”
“You’re younger than me and talk too much.”
“Do you lack composure?”
Even while bickering, the two carefully observed their surroundings as they walked.
“Doesn’t look like there are any traps.”
“I could tell that much too.”
Though Youngho’s words were truly irritating, Muyeon restrained her temper for the sake of information.
‘As the elder, I should endure it…….’
It wasn’t because she thought she would get beaten up.
…Really.
After walking a little farther, they reached the place—
Flinch!
Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon instinctively squeezed their eyes shut at the horrific sight.
“They’re Jiangshi.”
At Muyeon’s indifferent tone, Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon glared at her. Ignoring their stares, she continued casually.
“At a glance, there must be several hundred.”
Which meant that these several hundred corpses had all once been living people.
“They sure made a lot. Did they even deliberately turn children into Jiangshi? To affect the psyche of the Orthodox Sect bastards?”
Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon felt extremely uncomfortable standing there. How could someone witness such a scene and feel no anger at all?
Even their master, Horyeung, showed no reaction. For a moment, they wondered if something was wrong with them instead.
It felt as if common sense itself was crumbling.
Noticing this, Youngho spoke.
“Your reactions are normal. But if you’re shocked by every little thing like this, it’ll be hard to survive in the Unorthodox Faction.”
His tone was calm, as though stating something obvious. Even Horyeung nodded slightly in agreement.
It felt like speaking to a wall. No matter how shocking the situation, their composed reactions made them seem less than human.
Youngho picked up a book that appeared to contain records of something.
“I’ll skim through this. Keep watch. And Horyeung, keep a close eye on that bastard. If you think he’s controlling the Jiangshi, cut off one of his arms.”
“Understood.”
At Youngho’s casually murderous words, Eon Pyeong broke into a cold sweat.
‘He means it! He’s practically a Heavenly Slaughter Star incarnate!’
Muyeon looked at Youngho holding the book and asked,
“Can I take a look too?”
“No. This isn’t part of your payment.”
“How stingy.”
“Go sit over there.”
“You don’t speak to your elders like that.”
“Then the old lady can go sit over there.”
“There’s no order in going first.”
“I’ll follow order, so don’t worry.”
Truly provoked by his words, Muyeon huffed angrily, plopped down on the ground, and sat.
“Do whatever you want. I only need to know whether the Demonic Cult is preparing for war.”
“Still, don’t tell anyone about this.”
“I wasn’t planning to. Why would I do something that could cost me my life?”
“Good.”
Youngho began flipping through the numerous recorded books. There were so many that it took two Shijin before he finally finished reading them all. Looking tired, he wiped his face with his palm.
“Hosan. Chowon. Go tell the Gold-Blood Hall Master to come.”
“Should we also inform him that this was the Demonic Cult’s doing?”
“Just make sure he comes as quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
As if there was no time to delay, the two immediately headed outside.
Looking at the terrifying pile of books strewn carelessly across the ground, Youngho spoke.
“I learned something interesting.”
A distinct smile curved at the corner of his lips.
And four days passed.
“So?”
“That concludes the report.”
At Cheongsol’s words, Cheonung chuckled in delight.
“The Demonic Cult bastards were creating Jiangshi in Luoyang, and Orthodox Sect bastards were involved in it?”
“More precisely, it appears only the Jinju Eon Clan cooperated.”
“What was that bastard Nam A-pyeong doing while things got this bad?”
“It seems he searched diligently. However…….”
“However what?”
“It appears the Gold-Blood Hall Master’s search party was inferior to a mere Wandering Warrior.”
“A Wandering Warrior?”
“Yes. It seems there is a Wandering Warrior in Luoyang known as Stench Ghost, or Mad Dog.”
“That one is far more capable than the Gold-Blood Hall’s search party?”
“That seems to be the case. The Gold-Blood Hall Master is aware of this and appears to be trying to recruit that Wandering Warrior into the search party by any means.”
“Go on.”
“Please give me a moment. Given the gravity of the matter, I couldn’t even remember the name…….”
“I’ll allow it.”
“That generosity nearly brings tears to my eyes.”
Cheongsol shot Cheonung a brief glare before carefully examining the documents again.
“The Wandering Warrior called Muyeon is apparently known as Stench Ghost. Gender is female, and a notable detail is……?”
“What? What is it?”
“……They say if you call her Mad Dog, she truly goes mad.”
“And?”
“However, being called crazy bitch is acceptable.”
“……What’s the difference?”
“Other than not being called a dog, there seems to be none.”
“It’s really strange. But somehow, I have a feeling my disciple is tangled up with that bitch called Mad Dog.”
At those words, Cheongsol rubbed his eyelids with his fingers as though utterly exhausted and said,
“That is correct. I heard it was someone hired by the Fifth Young Master.”
“I knew it.”
“Yes. In any case, it is said that the Fifth Young Master hired a Wandering Warrior named Muyeon and discovered the location where the Jiangshi were.”
“How many days did it take?”
“They say it took one day.”
“……Impressive.”
It was pure admiration. To uncover the Demonic Cult’s hideout in merely a single day—something even the Gold-Blood Hall’s search party failed to find…….
If it were true, the woman named Muyeon was talent that needed to be brought in immediately.
“What about the engagement?”
“According to the Demonic Cult’s Poison Demon and the Fifth Young Master, they fought the Poison Demon and one other strong individual comparable to him.”
“Poison Demon…… you mean that cowardly bastard?”
“If you mean the one who fled with his tail between his legs while facing the Alliance Lord in the past, then yes.”
“There’ve been more than one who picked a fight with me and ran.”
“That is also true. In any case, in the Jianghu he is said to be more terrifying than most masters of the Transformation Realm.”
“And Youngho defeated him?”
“Yes.”
“Has that brat actually reached the Transformation Realm? Is he hiding something from me?”
“I am highly suspicious as well. Moreover, it is said he faced not only the Poison Demon but another comparable expert at the same time.”
As though merely thinking about it gave him a headache, Cheonung groaned.
“I don’t understand that brat anymore. Just when I think I do, I don’t.”
“This is not the scheming of a mere eighteen-year-old. I would like to suggest he could even be a spy of the Demonic Cult, but…….”
“Even you find that absurd, don’t you? My disciple, a spy of the Demonic Cult?”
“Ahem…….”
Cheongsol knew it as well. Cheonung’s disciple could never be a spy of the Demonic Cult. Even if he were, he would lose his life to Cheonung soon enough.
Cheonung had not attained the position of Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance by martial strength alone. Martial power had played a significant role, but his mind was equally sharp.
Would such a man have accepted a disciple without conducting any investigation? Without testing whether he was qualified?
If asked such a question, Cheongsol would answer without hesitation—one hundred times out of one hundred—no.
“The Fifth Young Master is capable.”
“That he is.”
“And the Fifth Young Master must understand how grave this matter is.”
“…….”
At this, even Cheonung of all people had nothing to say. There was no way Youngho did not know. If he became entangled in this Jiangshi incident, he would become a target of the Demonic Cult—his life could be in danger.
“……Should I assign him some guards?”
“Shadow also said it would be better to do so.”
“Then whom should I send?”
“However, the Fifth Young Master refused.”
“What?”
“He refused to have guards assigned.”
“……Reason?”
“He said they would be cumbersome, and above all, most of those sent as guards would be below standard.”
It was a fair point. Youngho had captured Taemyeong, who had briefly reached the Transformation Realm, and killed the Poison Demon, who was evaluated as being on the verge of that realm.
How many could guard such a person? Rather, it would be fortunate if they did not become a hindrance.
“He must have some plan. That brat of a disciple never speaks his thoughts aloud…….”
“That is the kind of person he is.”
“Then how long can we keep this matter hidden?”
“If the Demonic Cult sets its mind to it, the truth of this matter will likely be uncovered within a year.”
“Oh? Longer than I expected.”
“There were almost no witnesses, after all.”
“This is troublesome…… That brat is important manpower.”
“Indeed. He is not merely at the level of a Junior Disciple. Rather, he belongs among truly remarkable Martial Artists. I never expected him to kill the Poison Demon.”
At the praise of his disciple, Cheonung seemed so pleased that the corners of his mouth rose all the way to his cheekbones.
“I raised that disciple well.”
“You hardly did anything for him.”
“I taught him martial arts—that’s enough. Besides, he doesn’t come asking questions. What am I supposed to do?”
“Grr…… I suspect it’s more than just that….”
“In any case, this matter will definitely leak to the Demonic Cult.”
“Shall we block it as much as possible?”
“Block the information from leaking.”
“In that case…….”
Cheongsol’s eyes flashed for a moment.
“What are your plans regarding the Jinju Eon Clan?”
Cheonung fidgeted with his fingers for a long time before answering, as though it weighed heavily on him.
“Should we make it so that this matter was stopped by the Orthodox Sect rather than the Unorthodox Faction?”
“If that is your intention, it must be handled discreetly. The core of the Orthodox Sect is none other than the Murim Alliance.”
“Let’s speak to Yonghu.”
“If so, it would be best to use Shaolin.”
“Why those bald monks?”
“Well, the ones managing Luoyang in Henan are Shaolin, are they not? And with the Beggars’ Sect right beside them, it would be best to make it appear as though the Nine Sects and One Gang moved.”
“You’re saying we just hand over our merit to those bald monks and beggars?”
“No, to begin with, you were the one who said we should hand this matter over to the Orthodox Sect…….”
“That won’t do! I’ll persuade Yonghu somehow—if not those monks, then perhaps those worldly bastards of Mount Hua or the Taoist nose fellows of Wudang……?”
Cheongsol trailed off, puzzled by the sight of Cheonung staring blankly at him.
“Alliance Lord. What is it?”
“No, I just realized—there isn’t a single decent bastard among the Orthodox Sect lot, is there?”
“Well, even so, if you are thinking of the Fifth Young Master, it may be better to borrow the Orthodox Sect’s hand.”
“Grr…… Wait a moment. I may trust Yonghu, but I can’t trust the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Families.”
“There is little choice. They are the center of the Orthodox Sect.”
“I’d run the Orthodox Sect better myself. Fine. Send a letter to Yonghu asking to meet. Make sure to mention that it’s truly important.”
“I will subtly include mention of the Jinju Eon Clan. And if you look at this document here…….”
“Alright. I’m going to train. Good work.”
Cheongsol shouted toward the disappearing Cheonung,
“All you had to do was sign it!!”
Cheongsol’s desperate wail echoed sorrowfully through the Alliance Lord’s office.