Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: To the Iron Lion Sect
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"As I mentioned, we found another stone chamber, but only traces of the walls being smashed remained. At this point, we can't even guess what he obtained or did there."
"Even if we find him, we have suspicions but no hard evidence, so we can't press him too hard, is that it?"
The leader of the Great Righteous Alliance, Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang, pinpointed exactly what Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun meant. She replied politely.
"Yes. Until he confesses, that's the situation."
"Hmph, as expected, not an easy task."
Yi Jo-yang nodded gravely when one of the Secret Shadow Pavilion agents hurried over, handed Byeon Ryeo-gun a report, and left. After reading it, her brows furrowed deeply.
"What's got you making that face right off the bat?"
"There was someone we overlooked in the investigation, so I asked for a detailed check."
"I see."
"Yes. The senior disciple of the Iron Lion Sect's sect leader in Jangsa, Hunan Province. He returned after three years and brought the Sky-Spanning Gang—a black path gang—to its knees."
"And?"
"After that, it seems he also defeated the White Sword Sect's sect leader. The White Sword Sect is a renowned orthodox sect in Hunan..."
"I know of the White Sword Sect. They've been keeping the Dongting Lake bandits in check for a long time, so I've had my eye on them. Being close to the Yangtze, they seemed like a good bridgehead against the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze if needed."
Byeon Ryeo-gun stared at him in slight surprise at Yi Jo-yang's words.
"It seems odd that you're scheming to ally with Heaven-Rending Legion Kang Yi-wi while harboring such thoughts on the side?"
"Yes."
"The unorthodox sects are a necessary force to guard against the demonic path. But they're like water and oil with us—they can never truly unite. Anyway, that's not the point. The key is that the Iron Lion Sect's senior disciple defeated the White Sword Sect leader. Returning after three years... quite the coincidence."
"Yes."
"So we've caught a crucial clue that it might be him. Why the sour face, then?"
"Because the unorthodox side has likely noticed too."
"Has it?"
"They're investigating just as thoroughly as we are. News of that magnitude would have reached them for sure."
"Hmmm."
Yi Jo-yang let out a heavy groan.
Byeon Ryeo-gun watched him silently, thinking she needed to be cautious around someone with eyes sharp enough to read expressions even through her veil.
"Assuming the unorthodox know as well, what then?"
"First, let me ask one thing."
"Go ahead."
"Will you keep joining hands with Heaven-Rending Legion?"
"With demonic forces growing so strong, we have no choice."
It was a way of saying they couldn't fully let go yet. Hearing that, Byeon Ryeo-gun answered Yi Jo-yang's implied question.
"In that case, we should inform them."
"Didn't you say they'd already know?"
"Exactly—so we share this key information openly and suggest investigating together."
The idea was to reveal what they already knew, showing the unorthodox there was nothing hidden. Yi Jo-yang smiled in satisfaction at her words.
"Do as you think best."
Iron Mountain's eyes snapped open.
The single oil lamp he'd brought pushed back the darkness of the training chamber.
"Second Senior Brother, you there?"
Iron Mountain asked without even turning his head.
"Yeah."
"Feeling any better? Any reaction?"
"Not sure."
"Doesn't your body feel lighter?"
"Like you could run around all day without a care?"
"Yeah. You too, Second Senior Brother?"
"I've felt lighter since two days ago."
"Whoa, that guy really wasn't just talking big."
"He's here right now."
"...!"
Startled, Iron Mountain bolted upright, locking eyes with Do Cheon. In the dim darkness, he saw Do Cheon sitting side by side with Yi Yeol.
"Wait... why are you here today?"
"Is it that hard?"
"No, it's just... what now...!"
"We're trying a bit of refinement in our speech. Is that so tough?"
"Refinement? What're you on about..."
"Forget it. It'll stick eventually with enough practice."
"Practice what?"
Sensing trouble, Iron Mountain jumped up and backed away. But he wasn't fast enough to evade Do Cheon's hand yet.
Smack!
One strike, and Iron Mountain froze stiff. Then a wooden sword danced swiftly over his rigid body.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Finally, a blow to the back of his neck.
Iron Mountain passed out cold.
Do Cheon laid the stiffened Iron Mountain on the floor and stood. Yi Yeol was already waiting, knowing his turn as always.
But not this time.
"Not you."
"...?"
"He's behind you, so he gets an extra round. If you're progressing at the same rate, I only need to show once."
Yi Yeol stared blankly at Do Cheon's irritated tone, prompting him to add,
"He's just annoying."
"Yes."
"For real. It's not irritation—he's that annoying."
"Yes."
"...!"
"...?"
"Let's go see Little Sparrow."
"Yes."
Do Cheon cleared his throat awkwardly and left the training chamber.
He was teaching her the sword.
The Scattered Flowers Sword of the late Sixth Iron Lion, Yi Gun-ok.
Once her Scattered Flowers Sword was on track, he planned to teach the Flying Swallow Eight Wings lightness skill left by the same master.
The foundation for both was the Jade Dew Divine Art. Neither was anything less than an ultimate technique, so Little Sparrow had a long way to go before she could hold her own.
"Hahaha! My plea to see Wall Maiden again must have reached the heavens. I never dreamed it'd be this soon."
Four Divine Dragons Ha Gun-pyo laughed heartily.
But Byeon Ryeo-gun didn't smile. How could she, with such an unwelcome figure representing the unorthodox?
"You've grown even more beautiful in just a few days. What's your secret? Care to share? My one and only Maiden—if you taught me, I'd be overjoyed."
Ha Gun-pyo said with a grinning face. But Byeon Ryeo-gun, her face veiled, showed no reaction.
"Who'd have thought you were so close by. Jangsa, of all places."
Even as he broached the main topic, she remained silent.
"Wall Maiden, something troubling you?"
"Oh, I was just thinking how to make him confess. Sorry."
"Worrying over that? With the northeast under our control and the southwest blanketed by the orthodox, he's trapped unless he can fly. See that old geezer over there? The shriveled rat-looking one. That's Flesh Grinder, expert in torture. Leave cracking him to the old man."
Behind Ha Gun-pyo stood about a hundred men.
Tyrant Emperor Sect elites who would attack on his command, no matter the foe. Between Ha Gun-pyo and the hundred elites were twin elders in black and white uniforms, and the old man matching his description, glancing warily at the Black-White Twin Killers.
"You're going to torture him?"
"If he won't spill on his own, what choice is there?"
"If that's your plan, we can't join you."
"...!"
Ha Gun-pyo's face hardened at her bold words. He asked stiffly why.
"Have you forgotten? I'm orthodox. Without a reason everyone would agree on, we can't even capture him recklessly. From an orthodox standpoint, that's absolutely forbidden."
"This involves the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate arts."
"Even if it's bigger than that, we can't use force. Unorthodox can do as they please with their law of the jungle and might makes right, but not us. If Young Master Ha insists, we'll stop you."
"Hmph, even ready to fight?"
"As you said, with the Generation's Heavenly Demon's arts at stake, we can't just yield."
The orthodox and unorthodox representatives here were Byeon Ryeo-gun and Ha Gun-pyo, but higher masters were already mobilizing.
As Ha Gun-pyo said, unless he could fly, escape was impossible. Every exit from Jangsa was being netted with top experts. Once the heaven-and-earth net was complete, the leaders would enter: Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang and Heaven-Rending Legion Kang Yi-wi at the helm of the orthodox forces.
Byeon Ryeo-gun and Ha Gun-pyo's job was to secure hard evidence or a confession before they arrived at the Iron Lion Sect. They had ten days, including travel time.
Finding evidence seemed nearly impossible given the situation so far. So both leaned toward confession—differing only in method.
Byeon Ryeo-gun had seen Do Cheon's elegy inscription and planned to coax the truth from it. Ha Gun-pyo, true to unorthodox ways, intended to carve it out limb by limb.
Thus, Ha Gun-pyo was relaxed, while Byeon Ryeo-gun agonized.
"Ha, this is tricky. I really don't want to fight you, Wall Maiden. No other way?"
"Leave it to me, and nothing like that will happen."
"Hm? Is that a request?"
"...!"
"If it's Wall Maiden asking, I'd grant it without question."
"Yes. It's a request."
"Hahaha! Fine. A request from Wall Maiden herself—how can I refuse? We'll do it that way. But I have my position too. If he doesn't talk by the last day, hand him to me."
"Agreed. We'll do that."
"Good. So we're united?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun disliked "united" but nodded.
"Then to the Iron Lion Sect. This'll be fun, right? I'll find out Jangsa's famous dishes—spare a day for us?"
Ha Gun-pyo chattered cheerfully, while Byeon Ryeo-gun moved silently.
Behind them, over a hundred fifty warriors formed ranks. Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang had Secret Shadow Pavilion vice leader Spear Freak Ga Gyeom-chang lead fifty Great Righteous Alliance warriors as her escort.
Thus, more than a hundred fifty headed to the Iron Lion Sect.
Bang bang bang!
Someone knocked on the main gate.
"Who is it?"
Iron Mountain called out.
Because of the Sky-Spanning Gang leader Man Gwa-hae's incident, he didn't open blindly but peeked through the crack. He saw about thirty ordinary-looking people, far from martial artists.
Relieved, Iron Mountain opened the gate.
"What do you want?"
"Sent by Sky-Spanning Gang Leader. Are you Young Master Do?"
"From the Gang Leader?"
Iron Mountain glared suspiciously.
"Yes. I'm Seo Hwa-pyeong, former manager of the Flower House. The Gang Leader said Young Master Do needed workers and sent us."
The Flower House was the high-class brothel Man Gwa-hae had been forced to sell because of Do Cheon. Brothels housed courtesans, maids, kitchen staff—dozens in a top one like that. Seo Hwa-pyeong had run it smoothly.
"Ah! Come in, come in."
Recalling Do Cheon's request to Man Gwa-hae, Iron Mountain flung the gate wide. The people glanced at him warily and entered.
"Our eldest senior brother can be picky, narrow-minded, and fussy, so watch out. But not with me—you can relax. As long as you don't slack, I'll grin and bear it anywhere. Come on, come on in."
Iron Mountain beamed and guided them, with Seo Hwa-pyeong leading the group, marveling at the vast Iron Lion Sect grounds as they followed.
Moments later, Do Cheon inspected the new workers.
Thanks to Iron Mountain's words, they bowed slightly whenever their eyes met his.
"What'd the Gang Leader say when he sent you?"
"That the Iron Lion Sect will stand tall in the world, so do the work right."
"Know what 'stand tall in the world' means?"
"That you'll face the world."
"You might face terrifying warriors who choke the life out of you with a glare. As chief steward, can you face them head-on?"
"Entrust it to me, and I won't disappoint."
"Think it over. Entrusting is easy. But the danger's on you."
"As steward, as long as I don't tarnish the Iron Lion Sect, you'll protect us, right?"
Do Cheon smiled at Seo Hwa-pyeong's bold question.
He liked it.
Seo Hwa-pyeong caught the reaction, bowed deeply, and pointed to his group.
"Those ten over there are kitchen staff, the rest for odd jobs. Those two girls are for Little Sparrow young miss."
Do Cheon nodded, smiling even wider. Man Gwa-hae had sent better than expected.
'That guy's useful.'
With Do Cheon's face lit up, Seo Hwa-pyeong shared his thoughts from the walk from the gate.
"On the way, most buildings looked neglected except a few. Remodeling all?"
"That's the plan."
"Step by step, or fast regardless of cost?"
"Faster the better."
"A thousand gold nyang, and in three or four days, it'll be spotless."
"That quick?"
"Money moves mountains, they say."
"I like it. Get funds from Golden Flower Money House."
"Understood."
Seo Hwa-pyeong bowed, and Do Cheon addressed everyone.
"Whatever you earned before, I'll double it. So treat this like your own."
Everyone's faces brightened.
Whether money moved ghosts remained to be seen, but it sure melted wary hearts.
A few days later.
Over a hundred fifty warriors halted before the Iron Lion Sect.
The main gate stood wide open, revealing impeccably tended grounds without a single weed.
"Huh? Wasn't it abandoned for ages? New owner already?"
Ha Gun-pyo tilted his head.
Byeon Ryeo-gun looked up at the gate plaque in surprise.
Iron Lion Sect.
Worn but bold strokes proclaimed its past glory.