Chapter 68
Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: How Great It Would Be If They Were Thirty Years Younger
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Her body felt as heavy as a waterlogged sponge.
It reminded her of the time in her childhood when she'd caught a cold and lay bedridden with a high fever. She felt just as listless as she had back then. But she couldn't keep lying there helplessly, claiming she was sick and weak. The moment she snapped to the reality of her limp state, her eyes flew open. The first thing she saw was a face. Do Cheon's face, smiling at her.
"You alright?"
The Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. She meticulously recalled everything up to the point she'd lost consciousness. She'd collapsed from poisoning by what she suspected was Despair Mountain Powder.
"You said I'd be fine."
"You're not?"
"I feel awful."
"Circulate your qi, and it'll get better."
"Guess I have to."
Byeon Ryeo-gun pushed herself upright. But the instant she did, she froze. She'd assumed she was lying on something soft in a guest room, but no—this was smack in the middle of an inn. And on one side stood a dazed old man, with a bunch of others hovering even farther back.
"This is all..."
"Circulate your qi first."
"In this situation?"
Do Cheon turned his head at her words.
With Do Cheon saying nothing, the ones who'd spent the night standing there on eggshells finally came into view.
"Everyone out."
At Do Cheon's command, the Beggars' Sect leader shot his subordinates a look of desperate relief, and they scrambled outside. They looked like men liberated from the jaws of death, jostling to escape. The doorway was too narrow for some, who fled through the gaping hole in the wall instead.
"Prepare a carriage. And breakfast too."
The Beggars' Sect leader, who'd been slinking after them, flinched and froze at Do Cheon's words.
"Right away, sir."
"Out."
With Do Cheon's permission, the sect leader headed out again. Just before vanishing outside the inn, he turned and bowed deeply to Do Cheon. It was like he was thanking him for sparing his life. But Do Cheon, sitting with his back turned, paid no mind.
"Figured out who they are?"
"The Beggars' Sect."
"...!"
Byeon Ryeo-gun startled. The Beggars' Sect was a notoriously tricky bunch.
"What'll you do?"
"They say they abandon their leader if he's subdued, so I left it at that for now."
"Why use poison?"
"Seems they were after the Iron Lion Sect's secret arts. Let me ask you something too. Is Despair Mountain Powder common? Or the Yin-Yang Master's poison?"
"The Yin-Yang Master's poison was used on you too?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun stared in shock.
"I neutralized it, so no harm done. More importantly, are those poisons common?"
"No. Far from it. The ingredients for Despair Mountain Powder are so rare, you'd have to scour the world for ten years just to maybe find them. The Yin-Yang Master's poison is even rarer."
"Good to know."
"Were you poisoned too, Do Gongzi?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun asked with a worried look. But Do Cheon just smiled and shook his head.
"Not me. I was worried since there's no way to detect it beforehand—you can't stop someone nearby from getting hit."
"Poisons like Despair Mountain and the Yin-Yang Master's are too hard to obtain for casual use. They'd only deploy them when the sect's survival is at stake or against an enemy they can't possibly beat. Otherwise, they wouldn't even consider it."
"That's a relief. Now circulate your qi."
"Yes."
Byeon Ryeo-gun crossed her legs into the lotus position and closed her eyes. But she opened them again soon after.
"You planning to stay here the whole time?"
"Ah."
Do Cheon stood from his seat. He glanced around briefly before stepping outside. Only then did Byeon Ryeo-gun close her eyes again. Before circulating her qi, she needed to sort out the chaos in her dizzy head first.
Do Cheon stepped out to find only the Beggars' Sect leader pacing about. He'd sent his men away.
Do Cheon eyed the sect leader's face, where fear still lingered faintly, and pondered what to do. Killing them wasn't the only option. But he couldn't just let attackers walk free either.
"What should I do?"
Do Cheon voiced his indecision aloud. Keeping them under him to exploit sounded good, but if they abandoned even their leader, that was out. It was a real headache.
"Um... you might already know, but..."
"I know."
"...?"
"You could get booted from leadership, right?"
"Yes. They'll abandon me. You could kill me, but you won't get the sect."
"Yeah, that's why I'm agonizing over it."
"It was my authority, my decision."
"You want me to forget it in exchange for your life?"
"Couldn't you?"
He was trembling in fear but showed no intent to flee. Sending his men away proved he meant to end this at his level.
He knew a leader's responsibility.
Of course, admiration didn't mean mercy.
"Anything besides your life?"
"Pardon?"
"What's the gain in killing you? If I want satisfaction, I should wipe out the whole Beggars' Sect. Stopping after a taste when I won't even gorge myself—that's foolish."
"Is there something specific you want?"
"No idea. That's why I'm stuck. Take money? How much would be fair? They say the Beggars' Sect has the best intel network. How many years of info would you give? How many's enough? But how do I trust you won't hide the good stuff?"
His words screamed headache, no easy answer. To the sect leader, though, it sounded like a lifeline.
The Beggars' Sect leader quickly rummaged in his robes and pulled out an iron medallion the size of his palm. He approached Do Cheon cautiously and offered it.
"The Noble-Baseness Token."
"Noble-Baseness Token?"
"It means nobility and baseness are as close as the two sides of this token. We give it only to our sect's highest VIPs. There are exactly three in the world, and this is the first to leave our halls."
"What can I do with it?"
"Nothing."
"...!"
"Having it doesn't let you command the sect. Not even the supreme ruler of the world could. It's our survival strategy—and our pride."
"Then why give it?"
"To the token's bearer, we'll do everything within our power voluntarily. If they have enemies, we'll watch them closely and report even the slightest change. Wherever they go in the world, they'll never worry about lodging or food."
"Can't follow orders, but you'll help of your own accord?"
"Yes."
"Do you know who my enemies are?"
"The moment you accept this token, we'll mobilize everything to find out."
The sect leader paused there, gauging Do Cheon's reaction. Do Cheon mulled it over for a good while before speaking slowly.
"The Beggars' Sect... what an interesting place."
"...!"
"But giving this away won't it undermine your position? They abandon leaders, right?"
"When crisis hits, they abandon the leader. That iron rule has kept us free from domination all these years, but it sometimes breeds rebellion too. The Noble-Baseness Token was made for that—to let a cornered leader save himself once."
"Once meaning this is one of three, and you can only use it once?"
"Yes."
"The Beggars' Sect really is fascinating."
"Will you accept?"
"Sure. I'll take it."
Do Cheon reached out and accepted the token. The sect leader's face lit up instantly.
"Thank you."
"You should be thankful."
"I've ordered the finest breakfast prepared."
"Obviously. But... should I tell you about my enemies?"
"I'll note it."
"My immediate foe is the Golden Emperor Clan."
"...!"
The Beggars' Sect leader stiffened on the spot.
Seeing his reaction, Do Cheon realized the Golden Emperor Clan was truly formidable.
"The Golden Emperor Clan must be something else, huh?"
"The only ones to bring our entire sect under their thumb."
"Really?"
"Decades ago now, but it taught us they have not just wealth and force, but real intel power too."
"Wealth, force, and intel... they have it all?"
"Just one thing missing."
"...!"
"A supreme master to dominate the world. Specifically, one to match the Heavenly Demon, that Demonic Cult leader. If they produce one, the entire world—righteous and demonic alike—falls under their feet."
"...!"
"From what we've gathered, they've focused on breeding that unparalleled master for decades, ignoring other pursuits. If they wanted, they could take righteous and demonic sects in one fell swoop right now."
Righteous and demonic sects at once.
That meant unmatched force, wealth to endure wars for years or decades, and intel to watch the world. A near-perfect organization.
Paradoxically, the Heavenly Demon everyone feared—if he didn't exist, the world might already kneel to the Golden Emperor Clan.
"What a crazy world."
There's a saying about the frog in the well. From inside, the well and the patch of sky at its mouth seem like the whole world—so you never grasp how vast it really is. A jab at ignorance.
That was him.
Righteous and demonic sects. The Seven Great Sects led by Shaolin and Wudang, the Five Great Families like the Baekri and Nangong, the demonic side with Tyrant Emperor Sect and Solar Heaven, and the Demonic Cult with the Heavenly Demon. He'd known the names, but not their true power. And he'd thought the Golden Emperor Clan just a wealthy merchant group with some muscle—turns out they rivaled the Demonic Cult in force, with wealth and intel to boot. By the sect leader's account, maybe even greater.
"Anyway, thanks."
Do Cheon nodded. It felt like fair compensation for sparing his life.
"If that's all, I'll take my leave."
"Busy?"
"I need to rally the sect before ties to me are fully severed."
"Already in motion?"
"Your prowess terrified us into immediate action."
"I see."
What could he say to that? Do Cheon nodded, and the sect leader clasped his hands in salute before turning away. His steps quickened—he really had to rally the Beggars' Sect.
Shortly after the sect leader vanished, three figures appeared.
Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend, Black Death Dark God, and Thunder Bow.
"What now? Here to check if I spared you since I couldn't kill you?"
Do Cheon snapped first.
But the three approached undeterred, frowning instead.
"From a righteous clan? Or a wild swordsman?"
Black Death Dark God asked.
His true face was ageless. Black brows, black beard, but deep wrinkles. The brows and beard suggested under fifty; the wrinkles, at least seventy or eighty.
"What's a righteous clan? And a wild swordsman?"
Do Cheon shot back. Neither, was the point.
"Really not?"
"Don't you know I'm an Iron Lion Sect disciple?"
"Iron Lion King's arts couldn't send us flying in one hit."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Why? What makes you so certain?"
"My Phantom God Elusive Void is no lesser than the Iron Lion King's."
"How do you know that for sure?"
"An ancestor who mastered it fought the Iron Lion King. No clear winner."
"Gui Province records!"
"...?"
"There's a Gui Province entry about fighting a black ghost—no victor, but blamed on incomplete Iron Thunder Divine Art."
"Even so, not overwhelming like you."
Do Cheon just furrowed his brow at Black Death Dark God's conviction, and Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend cut in.
"Certain. Not Daoist. Close to nature's qi, but laced with darkness. Where'd this freak pop from?"
Do Cheon scowled harder, glaring from Black Death Dark God to Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend, then turned to Thunder Bow. He hadn't asked a thing. Like he didn't care, or the others asking was enough.
Do Cheon eyed them one by one, then let out a deep sigh.
"Not for world peace, no grudge, clearly sent by Heaven-Rending Legion—so after losing, just leave. Why keep pestering me?"
"A clean defeat, no questions."
"Only the Heavenly Demon could knock me out."
No reasoning with this vibe.
Do Cheon sighed again.
"Know the frog in the well? That was me. Thought I knew the world pretty well—turns out no. But you three seem the same. Curious 'cause it wasn't a clean loss? Only Heavenly Demon can knock me out? Golden Emperor Clan must be crawling with that level. Go bug them."
"Even if Heavenly Demon's there, you're who intrigues us now."
"Killing Buddha's pointless if we can't take you!"
"So... that curiosity justifies attacking and bothering people? Warrior world means might makes right? Want me to show you how brutal that is right here? Tried it... turns out slicing throats is way too easy. Shall I?"
Do Cheon's eyes burned.
Heads from Sky-Spanning Gang floated in those blazing eyes. He'd brushed it off as nothing, but the stigma stuck like a brand, unerasable.
A master's killing intent is lethal to the weak. Even experts like Black Death Dark God or Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend bowed to stronger intent.
Exactly now. Do Cheon ignited his rage, unleashing killing intent that crushed the three instantly. They weren't done for by mere intent— they had the skill to weather a storm. The issue: the source, Do Cheon, was beyond their endurance.
The three braced against his intent with their own power.
Feigning calm but speechless—that proved the pressure.
"Elders like you, I showed respect—so know when to back off gracefully. Why act like dishonorable thugs? Even addled brains should have survival instincts."
His anger boiled over mid-sentence, unleashing full killing intent. It was so intense it shredded their clothes like tangible blades.
But then trouble brewed from an unexpected spot—not the three before him.
"Guhhh!"
A groan escaped clenched teeth despite gritted endurance.
Do Cheon whipped around.
Through the inn's gaping wall, Byeon Ryeo-gun was visible, bent over, blood trickling from her mouth. Do Cheon's eyes widened as he rushed over like the wind.
"Sorry. Tried not to interrupt... ugh!"
Byeon Ryeo-gun groaned again.
His killing intent disrupted her qi circulation mid-meditation. Seeing him face the three, she'd tried staying quiet, but her rampaging inner energy forced the groan out.
"Only thing interrupting is harming Byeon Sojeo."
"...!"
"I'll assist—focus."
As Do Cheon placed his palm on her back,
"For qi circulation disruptions, Summon Pill helps greatly. And there's one right here."
Thunder Bow finally spoke.
"Before killing Buddha and that weirdo, smash the bowman first!"
Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend bellowed.
He had the pill but no intent to share. Fine by Do Cheon—treating this internal injury was within his power. He focused on Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"Give, and something comes in return."
"What comes for a Summon Pill!"
"An answer to soothe the old fiend's heart."
"For real?!"
As Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend yelled,
Boom!
Do Cheon swung his left hand, blasting away the inn wall. His furious face appeared.
"Say one word now!"
"Treating with pure qi has limits—overcomes immediate crisis, but be cautious raising qi for months."
Thunder Bow spat quickly. Do Cheon just scowled,
"Summon Pill!"
Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend tossed a silver-wrapped pill.
An hour later.
Byeon Ryeo-gun opened her eyes.
Do Cheon entered her sight first again.
"...Much better."
"Ah, looks fully recovered. Good."
Do Cheon smiled and nodded.
Byeon Ryeo-gun stared at his face before turning away.
The three were there. She rose from her spot and saluted them.
"Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun greets the three senior experts. Special thanks to Heavenly Horned Fiend for the Summon Pill."
She bowed politely. But Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend ignored her, fixated on Do Cheon, awaiting his answer on the pill.
Do Cheon shook his head firmly.
The Summon Pill was a cheap knockoff of Shaolin's Great Reversion Pill. Less potent, but still worth dozens of gold taels. Giving away such a treasure just to probe his martial arts? What was wrong with their heads?
Do Cheon eyed Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend with that doubt, then turned to the steadiest-looking, Thunder Bow.
"I can't say due to a promise with Heaven-Rending Legion—ask him yourself."
"What kinda crap is that!"
As Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend reared up, quick-witted Thunder Bow interjected.
"Heavenly Horned Fiend, let's get answers."
"From where?"
"Heaven-Rending Legion."
"That guy..."
"Scared?"
"Gonna kill you bowman before Buddha."
"Kill me and ask him yourself?"
"Ah!"
"I'll ask for you—let's go."
Thunder Bow turned first, Earth-Shaking Horned Fiend following. Black Death Dark God stared inscrutably at Do Cheon, said nothing, and left.
"Ha, seriously. How great would it be if those guys were thirty years younger?"
"Taking them as Iron Lions?"
"Yeah. Their power's impressive."
"Need Iron Lions that bad? Your strength alone suffices, Do Gongzi."
"An Iron Lion Sect with just the Iron Lion King isn't the Iron Lion Sect."
"...!"
"It needs swarming Iron Lions to truly be the Iron Lion Sect."
Do Cheon turned to Byeon Ryeo-gun, his face resolute.