Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Stepped in Shit
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“We stepped in shit.”
Dang Heeran grimaced as she spat out the words. The blood splattered on her clothes had already soaked in, refusing to come off no matter how much she rubbed. In the end, she gave up on wiping it away and let out a deep sigh.
“Why?”
“It’s not just you, it’s all of us.”
At Wi Seongcheon’s question, Dang Heeran exchanged a glance with Yuk Jinil before answering.
“The Mad Dog getting caught up in the Jade Qilin’s self-destruction isn’t our fault, but their sects won’t just let it slide like that.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s simple. Regardless of their personalities, the Jade Qilin and Empty Finger Monk were sub-sect leaders of the Six Unorthodox Sects. From their sects’ perspective, it’s a promising young leader dropping dead out of nowhere.”
“You’re not responsible for their deaths, right?”
“It’s natural for the Frenzied Blade Sect and Orchid Pavilion Sect to become enemies, but the grudge could spill over to us. They’re unorthodox, and we’re orthodox.”
In this incident, Dang Heeran and Yuk Jinil bore no responsibility. The Jade Qilin had started the fight first, and the Empty Finger Monk had jumped in unprovoked. Their deaths were of their own making.
That was the truth, but deeply ingrained emotions prevented people from accepting facts rationally. The leaders of the Orchid Pavilion Sect and Frenzied Blade Sect had lost their sons. That was the kind of event that inevitably stirred emotions, and in such matters, the more targets for blame, the better.
If the Heavenly Academy students hadn’t come to the Black Forest, none of this would have happened. They made perfect scapegoats.
“The Black Forest encourages infighting among the castle lords in the first place.”
“What’s new about that? Most people are selfish—they think it’s wrong when others do it but fine when they do.”
Dang Heeran snorted and shook her head.
“Most of those dying in the Black Forest are disciples from mid- and small-sized unorthodox sects. Up until we arrived, the Black Tyrants who dominated the top spots had only checked each other without actually killing. Right?”
Her question was directed at Baekli Hyang. Baekli Hyang, who had been wearing a cold expression, quietly nodded in agreement.
“Maybe the Black Demon King will step in to mediate…”
“No way.”
Baekli Hyang snorted at Yuk Jinil’s mutter.
“You think my father would get involved in something this petty? He’s the one who restructured the Black Forest like this and invited the Heavenly Academy students to stir up a new wind. He’s probably thrilled. He’s always hated how the top disciples just eyed each other warily and prioritized their own safety.”
That was why the Blood Tablets and Blood Duel Writs existed only in the cities of the Five Castles. But even those weren’t enough to spark bloody competition among the absolute top disciples.
“This won’t end with just Black Forest disciple issues. If the Orchid Pavilion Sect and Frenzied Blade Sect clash, the entire unorthodox martial world…”
“So what?”
Baekli Hyang chuckled and shook her head.
“In your martial world, the Martial Alliance mediates disputes between sects, but the Black Demon Alliance doesn’t. If the Frenzied Blade Sect and Orchid Pavilion Sect collide and one gets wiped out, the Six Unorthodox Sects become the Five. If both are destroyed, it becomes Four, and the mid- and small sects will devour each other to claim the vacant spots.”
That was how the unorthodox had always consolidated.
“Hmm.”
The one who interjected was Yeo Myeong.
“The Black Demon King of old would have agreed with you, but now? Who knows.”
“Uncle?”
Baekli Hyang had never expected Yeo Myeong to contradict her. She turned to him with a bewildered look. Yeo Myeong, who could be called the root cause of this incident, showed no mourning for the Jade Qilin or the Empty Finger Monk caught in the blast. Instead, he recalled his conversation with the Black Demon King in the Black Castle.
“…The era is coming to an end. The Black Demon King is actively seeking exchanges with the orthodox martial world, so he won’t want discord over something trivial.”
It wasn’t exactly trivial, but from the Black Demon King’s perspective, it might as well be.
“So, the Black Demon King might step in to mediate. In an easy, convenient way for him. Like wiping out the Orchid Pavilion Sect and Frenzied Blade Sect himself…”
It was a brutish method, but exactly the kind of thing the Black Demon King would do. Wi Seongcheon found himself naturally accepting it, which amused him.
“…Who are you?”
It was Dang Heeran who asked slyly. Yeo Myeong had stayed cooped up in the Blood Palace since being summoned to the Black Forest, never stepping out. Few people even knew he was there.
“And who are you?”
Yeo Myeong shot back with an annoyed expression, causing Dang Heeran to flinch, step back a few paces, and clasp her hands in salute.
“I am Dang Heeran of the Tang Clan of Sichuan. My nickname is…”
“As expected.”
Yeo Myeong’s expression soured. He had already guessed her identity from the various poison scents wafting from her, even before asking.
“And you?”
“…I am Yuk Jinil of the Kunlun Sect.”
Yuk Jinil answered with a salute as well. At that, Yeo Myeong’s mind raced. He wanted nothing to do with the Tang Clan, home of the Poison Witch.
And the Kunlun Sect on top of that? Yeo Myeong knew they harbored deep grudges against the Demonic Cult and had been tracking his movements for a long time. He would inevitably cross paths with their Martial Alliance envoy in a few months, but he had no desire to do so prematurely.
Thus, Yeo Myeong immediately retreated a few steps and vanished from sight.
[Don’t tell them who I am.]
He sent a clear transmission to Wi Seongcheon and Baekli Hyang.
“…Who the hell was that?”
“Just a senile old man.”
[You rotten bastard.]
Evidently not far away, Yeo Myeong immediately sent back an angry transmission. Wi Seongcheon ignored it and scanned the surroundings. Most of the people who had rushed here at the explosion’s sound were heading back to the city.
“…What about Senior Yeongjin?”
“He’s in secluded training.”
Probably immersed in the One-Mind Convergence gained from the Twin Rocks. Yeongjin wasn’t the only one absent.
‘The Black Tyrants didn’t show. They’re playing it real safe.’
They had sent servants in their place. No personal appearances. They must not want to risk trouble by leaving the city. It wasn’t surprising that Jeon Ga-i-hyeon or Ha Ji-eun stayed away, but even that arrogant Sanggwan Hu? Had he learned caution from the forest incident?
‘The Heavenly Academy students didn’t come out either. Seniors Uha Yeon and Tae Hee-myeong are in training, and the others…’
“…What will you do?”
Wi Seongcheon paused his thoughts and turned to Dang Heeran and Yuk Jinil.
“The Empty Finger Monk is dead. Planning to team up with other disciples?”
“I’m going to Seolhwa.”
Dang Heeran answered without hesitation. She had considered it since the treasure hunt, and aside from Ha Ji-eun, there were no real options. She had no desire to ally with the arrogant Sanggwan Hu, and Jeon Ga-i-hyeon’s group with Dang Seona was out of the question. She had thought about Baekli Hyang and Wi Seongcheon, but…
‘Suspicious.’
That senior from earlier too. He didn’t look that old, but his aura screamed half-immortal expert. That left only Ha Ji-eun.
“I’ll go where my senior is.”
Yuk Jinil glanced at Wi Seongcheon as he answered. Baekli Hyang immediately spoke up.
“No.”
“…And who are you to say no?”
“What do you mean? If you want to join us, you hold my hand. Not the Hidden Dragon’s.”
“Then take it.”
“No, I said no.”
Baekli Hyang openly scowled. Her refusal stemmed partly from Yeo Myeong’s transmission, but mostly because she didn’t want to team up with any student besides Wi Seongcheon. At first, she had no choice but to ally with him and even considered adding more, but not anymore.
“…Fine, then I’ll go to the Thunder Justice. Don’t regret it.”
“Regret what? I heard you got played by the Hidden Dragon in the forest.”
“Watch your mouth.”
Yuk Jinil glared daggers as he spat the words.
“Senior Yeongjin will probably go to Sanggwan Hu’s group.”
Mediating between them, Wi Seongcheon tilted his head. Yeongjin wouldn’t like Sanggwan Hu, but his group included Tae Hee-myeong, Cheong Wu-bin, and Jinu.
“…By the way, where the hell is that bastard Bang Jun?”
“No idea. He’s been gone from the start. Probably fooling around with women in the Jade Qilin’s brothel.”
Just imagining it made Dang Heeran furrow her brows in disgust.
She had no way of knowing that Bang Jun had resumed bathing after over a decade and was now passionately cooking for the Orchid Pavilion Sect disciples whose vitality had been drained.
* * *
[Ho-a didn’t show.]
As they left the forest and headed back to the Blood Palace, Yeo Myeong sent a transmission. Even though they had already parted ways with Dang Heeran and Yuk Jinil, he still hadn’t revealed himself.
“Hiding from wet-behind-the-ears kids because they make you uncomfortable? Don’t you feel pathetic?”
The White-Haired Witch walking ahead sneered loud enough for him to hear. Yeo Myeong cleared his throat loudly in response.
“I just don’t want to get entangled. If this weren’t the Black Forest, I could’ve dealt with them in any number of ways before it got annoying.”
“Oh? So it’s not the kids—it’s the Black Demon King you’re scared of?”
“Ahem.”
Yeo Myeong cleared his throat again at her cackling mockery.
[…Anyway. It’s a shame Ho-a didn’t come out. I wanted to see him.]
[What for? Want to dissect him like you did me?]
Wi Seongcheon didn’t know Yeo Myeong had been at the Demonic Cult before coming here. It wasn’t something to blab about, and the Black Demon King had ordered silence until the Martial Alliance conference. So Yeo Myeong replied shamelessly.
[I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never seen him in person, but Ho-a is a fascinating existence.]
[…Just to be sure, did you have anything to do with the Peng Clan’s true marrow technique?]
Given what he knew of Yeo Myeong, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had. For someone who once pursued immortality, he was far from a saint.
He was a man faithful to his curiosities and desires, honest with his emotions. Just this time, hadn’t he turned the Jade Qilin into a human bomb out of annoyance?
[I didn’t. Regrettably.]
Yeo Myeong clicked his tongue.
[When the Peng Clan was obsessed with improving the True Marrow technique, I was in secluded training on Kunlun Mountain.]
[…Kunlun Mountain?]
[Why ask now? Immortals belong on Kunlun Mountain—or they used to.]
The Kunlun Sect had relocated to Gansu, turning their back on Kunlun Mountain, a hundred years ago. Since Yeo Myeong had lived over two hundred years, it meant Kunlun Mountain hadn’t yet become demon-infested land during his prime pursuit of immortality.
‘Is that when immortals became unable to interfere in the world… because Kunlun Mountain was overrun by demons?’
[Even as I wandered the world after leaving Kunlun Mountain, I never heard of the Peng Clan’s affairs. If I had known sooner, I would’ve gone myself to lend a hand…]
Yeo Myeong spoke with genuine regret.
[Don’t say that around Yeonhwa.]
[You think I lack that much tact?]
Yeo Myeong chuckled. He had already encountered… the Tiger Plague at the Demonic Cult. He had experienced how vicious that young monster was.
And so, a suppressed longing stirred. He couldn’t bring himself to ask the Tiger Plague to let him examine his body, but his younger brother Ho-a might be different. Conveniently, Yeo Myeong held several tales that Ho-a would have no choice but to accept.
‘If that little tiger still hates his brother…’
[That girl from earlier. The one puking her guts out. Who is she?]
[Wu Heera of the Silver Spirit Style Wu Clan. She enrolled in the Heavenly Academy this year. Why?]
[She looked so pitiful retching like that, I thought I’d pass along some medicine.]
Yeo Myeong replied shamelessly again. No wonder she seemed familiar… the Wu Clan.
Yeo Myeong recalled the Ghost Weeping Demon he had seen at the Demonic Cult. That one too had piqued his interest.
‘I need to meet the Black Demon King.’
Soon, Baekli Hyang would be able to practice the Five Elements Diagram on her own. He didn’t know when the Martial Alliance envoy would arrive, but Yeo Myeong resolved to make good use of the time in between.