Chapter 105
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Then I'm Evil, What About It
"Why are you coming?"
Do Cheon asked with a displeased look on his face.
He was on his way to Gangsi Hall in Henan Province with Nang Sa-un, so he'd gone to pick up Nam Myeong, only for White Rakshasa to insist on tagging along.
"She said she didn't want to stay here alone, so I told her to come."
Nam Myeong replied.
"Who's gonna eat her if she's alone? Meals come right on time at every mealtime, and they said no one with a foul temper would come near this place, so nobody will bother her. She can do whatever she wants. What's so bad about being alone?"
Do Cheon grumbled, his face twisting. White Rakshasa's expression soured in an instant. Her lips trembled—she was clearly furious but holding it back.
Watching her, Do Cheon couldn't shake the worry that leaving her behind at the Iron Lion Sect might lead to more trouble.
"Fine. Come along, but if you behave, I won't even glance your way. Step out of line even a little, and I won't let it slide. You've seen it yourself—I've got a temper too."
Do Cheon shot those words at White Rakshasa, then turned back to Nam Myeong.
"It'll take more than ten days. We'll pass through some towns on the way, so think ahead about anything you need. Women probably have more stuff they require than we do."
"We don't have any money."
"Who said anything about money?"
"Didn't you demand money for smashing the front gate?"
"Ha! Seriously! You know nothing. That was a matter of principle!"
"Principle?"
"Yeah, principle. Of course you wouldn't get it—you're the culprits."
Do Cheon shook his head and headed toward the Iron Lion Sect's main gate. A carriage waited in the front courtyard just inside, and Nang Sa-un, whose body was still unwell, was already aboard.
"I'm sorry for making you come all this way too, brother."
Nang Sa-un said upon hearing Nam Myeong was joining them. They'd grown close enough to address each other as brothers.
"It's fine. I don't know the details, but you're going to recover your body, right? Good timing. Get better soon and become a proper Iron Lion."
Nam Myeong stood ramrod straight, treating Nang Sa-un like a little brother, which rubbed Do Cheon the wrong way.
"Enough chit-chat. Get in already."
At Do Cheon's urging, Nam Myeong grabbed White Rakshasa's hand and helped her up first, then climbed in after. Do Cheon boarded last, and the carriage rolled out of the Iron Lion Sect.
Anhui Province, Hefei, Gold Branch.
As Gold Branch, the lord of Black Night Heaven, descended into the basement of her residence, an old man was waiting.
"They say Iron God Dragon has left the sect."
"You knew?"
"Knew what?"
"That he's mastered the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate techniques."
"How would I know that?"
"When did you find out?"
"Two days ago."
"Source?"
"Great Righteous Alliance."
It meant word had come from a spy embedded in the Great Righteous Alliance.
"Why didn't you come to me then?"
"You were due today."
"You waited until today despite knowing such crucial information?"
"Whatever martial art he's practicing, nothing's going to happen in just two days."
"Is that truly what you think?"
"If it's wrong, I'll report it immediately from now on."
The old man stared coldly at Gold Branch's unflinching response, then abruptly extended his hand. She offered her wrist without hesitation, and he checked the energy implanted near her heart before releasing her.
"How's the infiltration of the Iron Lion Sect going?"
"It's hard without recruits."
"What about swaying Sky-Spanning Gang's leader?"
"No bribe works on him. Even threats might, if he had family—but he doesn't."
"Find a way."
"Yes."
The old man eyed Gold Branch suspiciously at her unusually compliant attitude today. She smirked.
"If you can't trust me that much, just kill me and put someone new in charge."
"Time's too precious, as you said. But remember—if you even think of stepping out of line, you'll be the first to die."
"Got it."
Gold Branch remained perfectly agreeable to the end.
Yangtze River, Western Mausoleum Gorge.
A massive cliff and mountain range formed a long canyon here—one of the Yangtze Three Gorges, close to Yichang.
"How the hell did that collapse? An earthquake...? No, couldn't be. An earthquake wouldn't block the river so neatly."
Nam Myeong muttered at the sight of the cliff that had crumbled, damming the Yangtze's flow.
"Wait here."
Do Cheon said.
"Where are you going?"
Nam Myeong asked, but Do Cheon didn't answer. He kicked off the ground and soared into the air. Moments later.
Boom!
Do Cheon plunged into the middle of the Yangtze.
Chunks of the boulders blocking the river shattered, spraying water everywhere. He leaped back into the air to watch—the river now poured downstream through the gap he'd made, but it wasn't flooding into a tsunami.
Do Cheon methodically cleared the rest of the boulders until the water flowed normally again, then returned to the group.
"You did this?!"
Nam Myeong exclaimed, stunned.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Had a tug-of-war with the Gold Imperial Family."
"And you won?"
"I don't fight battles I can lose."
Even though she'd half-expected it, Nam Myeong's face lit up with shock. The Gold Imperial Family was a power even her master, Heaven-Rending Legion, and the Solar Heaven and Great Righteous Alliance treated with caution.
"Monster..."
Nam Myeong shook her head and headed back to the carriage.
To reach Luoyang in western Henan Province, they had to cut diagonally north through Hubei. This naturally brought them near Wudang Mountain, just a day or two away. At Do Cheon's insistence, the carriage veered close to the mountain itself.
"Do you know why Wudang Sect is so impressive?"
"I've heard they're fair and just."
Nang Sa-un answered Nam Myeong's question. Do Cheon and White Rakshasa stared out opposite windows.
"That's right. Fair and just. Maybe that's why, but what makes Wudang truly great is that even their enemies respect them. Even the unorthodox who hate and oppose Wudang secretly acknowledge it. Respect from enemies? That's huge."
"I see."
Overhearing despite himself, Do Cheon pondered: 'What does "fair and just" even mean?'
Fair and just!
Fair meant impartial and transparent, without bias. Just meant profoundly righteous and correct.
In essence, fair and just meant actions free of selfishness, unbiased, clear as day, and utterly right.
Was Wudang like that?
Do Cheon shook his head.
The Wudang elder he'd met wasn't.
Wudang's Yun Yang had judged the Iron Lion Sect solely by his own views, pushing his beliefs aggressively. No selfishness maybe, but heavily biased.
"There might be people who try to be fair, but no one's fair to the bone."
Do Cheon muttered. Nam Myeong, catching only bits, turned.
"What?"
"Let's eat."
"Already?"
"There's a big inn over there. We'll eat there."
"If the boss says so. Handle it."
Do Cheon directed the driver to an inn with a sign reading Baekun Inn.
Baekun Inn.
It was still half a shichen (one hour) until lunch, but the place was packed. Unusually, most patrons were martial artists.
The rumor of the Heavenly Demon and Demon Cult invading hadn't reached civilians, but it had spread among notable experts, so Hubei's warriors had gathered at Wudang.
Though the Heavenly Demon and cult had retreated, the shocked warriors lingered, unwilling to leave Wudang—especially with all Hubei's famed masters assembled, drawing even more who yearned to glimpse them.
"We need some word from Wudang before we head back, but why no news?"
"A few more days, and we'll hear something."
"Should we visit Wudang again?"
"The Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon. Wudang's probably assessing the situation carefully. Let's wait patiently."
"Any idea why the Heavenly Demon retreated?"
"My connections say he was routed."
"The Heavenly Demon defeated and fled? By whom?"
"They wouldn't say."
"Heavens! The Heavenly Demon beaten!"
"Maybe by the Sword Saints?"
"Sword Saints? They really exist?"
"Ever heard Sword Saint passed away?"
"No."
"Anyone? No. So where are they?"
"True enough."
"If Sword Saints stopped the Heavenly Demon, why so quiet?"
"Casualties, probably. Fighting the Heavenly Demon under Heaven means blood spilled."
"Makes sense."
This was the conversation from a table inside. They spoke softly, but it reached Do Cheon's ears clearly. Similar talk buzzed throughout the inn.
"The one who did the work gets no credit, while others get the praise."
Do Cheon muttered. He didn't crave acclaim, but hearing it go to the wrong people soured his mood.
He called for the waiter to order something tasty, but before the boy arrived, three men approached—ones who'd been eyeing them since they entered.
"What do you want?"
Do Cheon asked. A bulging-eyed middle-aged man replied coldly.
"Pardon the intrusion. That woman—is she White Rakshasa?"
His fierce gaze held certainty and hostility.
The inn fell silent at "White Rakshasa." All eyes locked on them.
Worry creased Nam Myeong's face; vicious energy flared on White Rakshasa's. Do Cheon stayed calm—this wasn't enough to anger him. He always handled these with a contrarian edge.
"And?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"Is she White Rakshasa?"
"Yeah."
The air rippled as Do Cheon confirmed it.
The three who'd approached drew weapons first, guarding against Do Cheon. Nearby patrons joined, encircling them.
"Unorthodox witch! How dare you set foot here! Think disguise fools us?!"
Short on cash, White Rakshasa still wore clothes from Celestial Insight Maiden.
"Shut your trap! Who asked you, you turtle-headed freak?! Get lost before I rip your jaw off!"
White Rakshasa shot up, bellowing. All her pent-up frustration from Do Cheon boiled over.
"You lot wouldn't dare look me in the eye elsewhere, but now you crawl into your own backyard? Come on! I'll gut you all!"
Her rage was murderous. Some flinched, but most stood firm—their numbers strong, this their home turf, as she said.
"Shut it! Showing up here! You've got some gall, wench!"
The middle-aged man shouted. White Rakshasa could hold back no longer—she kicked off and lunged. Closing distance in a flash, she thrust her knife-hand at his throat. But just before her blade-like fingers struck, a hand shot out and seized her wrist.
Startled, she saw Do Cheon. He'd also grabbed the middle-aged man's reflexively swung sword with his other hand.
"You trying to punch a hole in his throat right in front of me?"
"You heard what he said!"
"Kill him for calling you an unorthodox witch? Then clean up your act so you don't hear it!"
"Shut up!"
White Rakshasa shrieked. Do Cheon's eyes twitched. Her momentum faltered—she knew pushing further meant his fist.
"Let go."
Do Cheon released her. She slumped back into her seat. His gaze shifted to the middle-aged man.
"We're just passing through, so don't pick fights. Let's eat in peace."
Recognizing Do Cheon as an expert, the man said nothing. Do Cheon figured that settled it and returned to his seat. The man and his group glared before storming out. Other patrons hastily paid and fled too.
"Waiter! Gonna take our order or not?"
Do Cheon bellowed. The boy hurried over.
Do Cheon asked the group what they wanted and ordered. Once the waiter left, Nam Myeong spoke.
"What now?"
"About what?"
"Don't you know how this ends?"
"Should we tuck tail and run? That what you want?"
"Best to avoid needless fights."
"Obviously. But why should we run?"
"Well..."
Nam Myeong trailed off. Do Cheon eyed White Rakshasa.
"White Rakshasa, what do you want?"
"Kill 'em all."
"Should've known better than to ask. Junior Brother, what's best?"
"Normally, we'd retreat. But we're Iron Lion Sect, and Eldest Brother has strength enough not to."
"Exactly. We're Iron Lion Sect. If we were weak, sure—but we can't flee from Wudang's front yard."
"Yes."
Do Cheon declared boldly, Nang Sa-un agreeing.
Nam Myeong shook her head at them.
"You unorthodox are the ones acting unorthodox."
"This isn't orthodox versus unorthodox. It's pride."
"So you'll stand proud in Wudang's front yard? Risk full war?"
"Full war?"
"Stand tall here, Wudang loses face. They'll send experts. You'll crush them. They'll send stronger ones. You'll crush those. Eventually, their top masters show."
"Perfect."
"Perfect?"
"Best-case scenario. We're just here to eat. They pick the fight? Thanks to someone's temper, I talked them down without spilling blood. They come back? Words fail, fists talk. Boom—proper clash with Wudang. What can you do? Better to break than bend."
"...!"
"Love it. Fits the Iron Lion code perfectly."
Do Cheon grinned.
To avoid clashing with the entire Great Righteous Alliance for his juniors' sake, crushing Wudang's momentum seemed wise.
A thought as they'd neared Wudang.
"Did you... route us near Wudang hoping this would happen?"
When the driver mentioned Wudang wasn't far, Do Cheon had changed course.
"Yeah."
"You!"
"What?"
"You're truly wicked."
"Me? She's the one called unorthodox witch, and those guys came picking fights with folks just trying to eat. I'm wicked?"
Do Cheon nodded at White Rakshasa. Nam Myeong yelled, still furious.
"You're using your junior sister!"
"Using her infamy wicked?"
"Yes!"
"Then I'm evil, what about it."
Do Cheon crossed his arms. At his nonchalant demeanor, Nam Myeong trembled, too angry for more words.