Chapter 107
Chapter 107
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Ryuma Chapter: 107 Chapter Title: Virtuous Dragon and Thunder Dragon ----------------------------------------------------------------- The mention of the Wudang Sect drew even Blood Phantom's gaze. Jade Clarity and the Virtuous Dragon caught their eyes. Blood Phantom fixed his stare on the Virtuous Dragon.
"I've never heard of a guy like that in Wudang."
"Then he's probably not from Wudang."
Do Cheon replied to Blood Phantom's mutter as he approached Jade Clarity and the Virtuous Dragon. Tension was plain on Jade Clarity's face, while the Virtuous Dragon brimmed with curiosity.
"You from Wudang?"
"That's right."
Jade Clarity answered.
"What about you?"
"Ah, this one's a guest visiting our sect."
Jade Clarity drew a clear line, just in case. He'd told them to rely on the Virtuous Dragon if things went south, but regardless, it was best to clarify their statuses upfront.
"Right! They said they were staying at Wudang! You're from the Sage Abode, Sage Abode boy! You're one of them!"
Blood Phantom took a few steps forward, pointing and shouting. The rest of the Seven Star Old Monsters showed keen interest as well. In the midst of it all, the Virtuous Dragon scanned their faces before speaking.
"You're from the Fiend Woods."
"That's right. We came from the Fiend Woods."
"Yes, I'm the Virtuous Dragon from the Sage Abode."
The Virtuous Dragon politely cupped his hands in greeting. Blood Phantom hadn't expected such courtesy and stood there dumbfounded for a moment. The Sage Abode, founded by reclusive masters of the Orthodox faction, and the Fiend Woods, formed by unorthodox overlords to oppose it. Though the two were clearly hostile, their overt purpose was to block the Heavenly Demon and his cult's invasion. As Blood Phantom closed his mouth, so did the Virtuous Dragon. It revealed an excessively taciturn nature. Though that wasn't the only reason. The Virtuous Dragon's eyes were busy scrutinizing Thunder Dragon, Nam Myeong, and Do Cheon. He'd faced a mysterious master who'd driven off the Heavenly Demon after going to confront him—a staggeringly formidable expert. And now, here he was meeting three others just as strong as himself. They even seemed around his age. How could he not be intrigued?
"Did the elders of Wudang send you?"
Do Cheon asked.
"Yes."
"What'd they say when they sent you?"
Instead of answering, Jade Clarity glanced at White Rakshasa. Do Cheon got the gist from that alone.
"So, what now?"
Do Cheon asked.
"Didn't you handle the inn cleanup nicely?"
Jade Clarity shot back instead.
"Don't they drag off anyone causing a ruckus near Wudang?"
"Drag off? Why would fellow Orthodox folk do that?"
"...!"
He must've judged them the same way after seeing the inn cleanup. Unorthodox types wouldn't care about civilian casualties. 'Shouldn't have cleaned it up first!' The damage to the innkeeper. Do Cheon recalled his own losses and felt a pang of sympathy. How infuriating and rage-inducing it had been each time the Iron Lion Sect's main gate got smashed. He'd only wanted to compensate the innkeeper first.
"Uh, where are you from, exactly?"
Jade Clarity asked cautiously. Blood Phantom whipped around to stare at Do Cheon as well.
"Yeah, who the hell are you? Where'd you even come from?"
"Me? With White Rakshasa's group."
That was Do Cheon's answer to the sudden questions. Wariness flashed across Jade Clarity's face, and Blood Phantom looked to White Rakshasa, whom he'd never heard of. He knew Heaven-Rending Legion, but not enough to care about his daughter.
"White Rakshasa? Who's that?"
"Guess you don't know. Know Heaven-Rending Legion?"
"Of course. Who doesn't?"
"She's his daughter."
"His daughter?"
"Yes."
Blood Phantom's expression shifted at the revelation that White Rakshasa was Heaven-Rending Legion's daughter.
"Then we're practically family."
Jade Clarity's face paled dramatically at Blood Phantom's words. Now he saw it—White Rakshasa, her crew, the Fiend Woods lot—all unorthodox. Of course her group was too. 'This is bad! One slip and my juniors get massacred!' Jade Clarity's wariness deepened. Just then, Do Cheon turned and met his gaze.
"What happens to someone causing a ruckus here if they're not Orthodox?"
Do Cheon asked. He was smiling, like he was enjoying this. To Jade Clarity, it looked downright sinister. 'They really are unorthodox!' This was serious. Unorthodox rabble-rousers near here didn't get a pass. Punishment varied by severity, but they were usually dealt with mercilessly. Still, he couldn't say that outright.
"Mind telling us what happened?"
"Someone bolted for Wudang, didn't they? That's why you're here."
There surely had been. That's how Wudang found out. But all Jade Clarity had heard was that White Rakshasa was stirring trouble over her father's death—clean it up. 'What to do?' After racking his brains, Jade Clarity stepped toward White Rakshasa and cupped his hands.
"Heaven-Rending Legion's passing is truly tragic. Though our paths differ as Orthodox and unorthodox, he was an exemplar even to us juniors."
White Rakshasa bristled at her father being brought up repeatedly. But she couldn't snap at Jade Clarity for expressing regret over his death. She turned away, signaling she wanted no more of it.
"What? Heaven-Rending Legion's dead?"
Blood Phantom asked in surprise.
"Yes. Such a shame. I'd heard he was a real hearty soul."
"From who?"
"The Heavenly Demon, I believe."
"Heavenly Demon?"
"Yes. Who else in Orthodox or unorthodox could do it but him and his cult? Come to think of it, we share a common foe. Not family, but no need to fight without cause."
Jade Clarity nodded vigorously. He brimmed with hope of defusing this crisis, unaware Do Cheon read him like a book. 'Amusing. Too bad Elder Yun-yang wasn't like this.' He was too upright. He clung excessively to what he deemed right, judging others strictly by that measure—no gray area between friend and foe. 'Guess the Iron Lion Sect leans that way too.' As rigid as Yun-yang's dojo. Unbending even if it snapped. Still, there were differences. They at least didn't strike first on suspicion alone. Do Cheon looked away from Jade Clarity, scanning the surroundings. He spotted Thunder Dragon staring blankly at him. 'Fiend Woods' weapon, huh?' On one side stood the Sage Abode's Virtuous Dragon, calm and composed. They'd already clashed once. 'He's the Sage Abode's weapon.' Both the Sage Abode and Fiend Woods were made to stop the Heavenly Demon and his cult. Those two must've been raised as weapons against him. Maybe one day they'd face him too? A recent thought had struck him. —Am I the Heavenly Demon too? He'd mastered the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate arts, after all—his successor in that vein. The thought exhausted him. Tedious. Smacking Wudang down to humble them? More hassle.
"Horse stables nearby?"
He asked Jade Clarity. Thunder Dragon and Nam Myeong's final clash had wrecked the inn and killed the carriage horses. The cart was smashed too. Needed new ones. No compensation fuss since the Hidden Blade House provided them.
"Keep going that way—you'll hear the horses."
Jade Clarity pointed. Do Cheon nodded to the coachman, who darted off to prepare. Do Cheon eyed Nam Myeong, White Rakshasa, and Nung Sa-un one by one.
"Let's go."
As Do Cheon led, Nung Sa-un struggled up from his chair to follow. White Rakshasa rose and looked at Nam Myeong.
"Wench, what?"
"Not coming?"
White Rakshasa stared straight at him. Still consumed by Hell Demon Realm's aura, Nam Myeong flushed with anger but spotted Do Cheon ahead, so he clasped hands behind his back and followed. As Nam Myeong passed, White Rakshasa set off too.
"Why you?"
Blood Phantom yelled. Thunder Dragon was tailing Nam Myeong.
"He's not dead yet."
Thunder Dragon replied. Nam Myeong halted and turned.
"Yeah, I haven't killed you yet!"
Murder filled Nam Myeong's eyes. Thunder Dragon, watching up close, tilted his head—then sideways, peering at the back of Nam Myeong's head. Crack! Nam Myeong toppled forward.
"That hurts."
Thunder Dragon muttered. His face scrunched, recalling his own hit from Do Cheon.
"You could go easy!"
Nam Myeong bellowed, regaining his senses as he rose. Do Cheon stood before him.
"Can't go easy."
"You tried?"
"Gotta try to know?"
"On purpose, huh?"
"What?"
"What's eating you? Why pick on me?"
"Not that."
Do Cheon turned away. Nam Myeong glared daggers, then sighed in resignation and looked to White Rakshasa.
"Little sis, you okay?"
"No."
White Rakshasa stalked ahead.
"Now what's your deal?"
Nam Myeong, baffled by her attitude, suddenly had Thunder Dragon in his face.
"Hey, brother. Don't do that again."
The moment Nam Myeong spoke.
"I'll pull it out for you."
"Don't...!"
Thunder Dragon unleashed lightning that struck Nam Myeong. He collapsed on the spot, then rose amid chilling killing intent.
"You bastards toying with me?"
"I'm Thunder Dragon. Not a bastard. And you've been asking why you won't die."
"You son of a—!"
Thunder Dragon blinked innocently while Nam Myeong glared furiously. The standoff lasted a moment. Both whipped around. Do Cheon was watching.
"Hurts getting hit by him. I'll kill you when he dies."
Thunder Dragon said. Stay quiet till Do Cheon died. Humiliating words. Enough to ignite Nam Myeong's Hell Demon Realm-fueled temper. He turned on Thunder Dragon, face ready to explode. Thunder Dragon spoke.
"Gonna get hit by him?"
Nam Myeong's brow furrowed. He deflated without erupting. The storm passed, and everyone dispersed. Jade Clarity looked around, then at the Virtuous Dragon.
"Did I look servile?"
The Virtuous Dragon pondered briefly before answering.
"Not sure about servile, but you seemed watchful."
"That's servility."
"I see."
"My juniors' lives mean more than anything. If acting servile saves them, I'll do it gladly."
"I'm here too."
"How many of those three could you handle? The old ones?"
"I see."
"This isn't for me to decide, so we're heading back to Wudang. Must report to the elders at once."
Jade Clarity hurried back to Wudang Sect with the Virtuous Dragon and his juniors.
Fun, though." "What if I hit you 'cause it's fun?" "Ow. Don't hit." "Then don't torment others 'cause it's fun." "...?" "Tormenting others for fun is like saying stronger folks like me can torment you for fun. You do it 'cause fun; I do it 'cause fun. Get it?" "Someone stronger than you?" "Yep." "Who?" "Heavenly Demon." "He's strong?" "Yeah." "Masters said let's go roast the Heavenly Demon." "You eat people?" "Heavenly Demon human?" "Yes." "Won't eat. Just roast. But strong?" "Strong. You could get hurt. Hurt bad." "Masters said I'd kill Heavenly Demon." "Wrong." "Masters never wrong. Know everything." "Your masters know me?" "...!" "They might not. Could be wrong. Not a sin." "Hmm... Hard. But... why won't you die?" "Wanna kill me?" "Yeah." "Why?" "Dunno." "Don't know but wanna kill?" "Won't die." "...?" "Big bear on our mountain died. Tiger too. Few days ago, that water snake. Roasted 'em all. Snake's best. Tastier than pork. Catch another, I'll roast for you." "Thanks. But Thunder Dragon." "Yeah?" "How'd you learn martial arts?" "Caught lightning." "Huh?" "Caught lightning and trapped it in my body. Masters said twenty-three failed. I'm the best. Heehee! Impressive, right?" Thunder Dragon puffed up proudly. Do Cheon was too flabbergasted to speak.