Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Main Enemy (3)
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“Ma Gu Mountain. Tell me what you know.”
At Danmun’s words, Yeom Seoksan squeezed his eyes shut.
His expression said plenty.
Yeom Seoksan knew the name.
He knew what it was for, too. Yeom Seoksan let out a deep sigh first, then opened his mouth and uttered two words.
“Eight Immortals.”
“What are the Eight Immortals?”
“Of all things...”
Yeom Seoksan couldn’t answer the question right away.
He seemed to be searching for the words to explain. He sat down on the chair right beside him. He suddenly looked several years older.
“The Eight Immortals are the eight immortals that spread widely among the common folk on a foundation of Daoism.”
“I know that much.”
“Ah, of course you do. That’s not what you’re asking about anyway.”
Yeom Seoksan seemed quite flustered.
Uncharacteristically, his words lacked order.
“Are there masks for those, too?”
Instead, Danmun pinpointed the core first.
Yeom Seoksan nodded as if in resignation.
“They have a great many masks of celestial gods and demon immortals. The Eight Immortals hold high rank and possess an independent system from the other gods, making it extremely difficult to acquire divinity. To immortalize a mortal lacking sufficient merit, they require aid from many other things. One of those is a legend site. By connecting to long-held faith at a place steeped in legends, one can awaken immortal power. That must be why your daughter is at Ma Gu Mountain.”
Danmun had only asked about Ma Gu Mountain.
He hadn’t mentioned that Seol had been found there.
Yet Yeom Seoksan had confirmed her presence first. This gave even more credibility to a matter that even the Intelligence Squad needed to verify again.
“You know it in great detail.”
Danmun said.
There was bite in his words. Yeom Seoksan didn’t take offense. He knew full well he had said too much.
“You’ve shown me great respect all this time. I’m grateful for that. By not prying too much, you avoided adding to the burdens I already carry. I don’t know if that’s your Intelligence Squad’s tactic for handling superiors, but it worked on me, at least. What I just told you is the foundation of the group I belong to—a secret I must never divulge. Just saying this much means I’m no longer safe.”
“The only one who heard is me. You called it the foundation of your group? We protect our sources. If we can’t guarantee an informant’s safety, we can’t ask for information.”
“That’s not the issue. The Supreme Emperor knows all, and the Flames destroy all. The moment my words leave my mouth, I become a sinner. Their power is truly terrifying. If they truly wish to kill me, even the Hebei Peng Clan couldn’t stop them.”
“I don’t know how terrifying they are, but we’ll give it a try. More importantly, I need information on Ma Gu Mountain.”
Danmun replied nonchalantly.
He didn’t even care what unrealistic names had come from Yeom Seoksan’s mouth. Yeom Seoksan looked up into Danmun’s eyes once more. Danmun’s pupils were calm, unwavering. It was reassuring, yet unnerving at the same time. Danmun was no ordinary man.
“I’ve never been to Ma Gu Mountain myself. I only know it’s a blessed site ideal for opening the heavens through rituals and achieving spirit possession.”
“Let me ask differently. Is a ritual something like Narye? If so, there must be a place for it.”
“Of course. Ma Gu Mountain corresponds to the incarnation site of one of the Eight Immortals, Haseon-gu. There will be shrines called Ma Gu Temples scattered throughout the mountain. Most Ma Gu Temples don’t worship only the goddess Mago. They enshrine various celestial gods and immortals together. You need to find the shrine where the legend of Haseon-gu clings most strongly. That’s surely where your daughter is.”
“Good. Now we’re getting somewhere. Let’s assume that place is the enemy’s lair. She won’t be there alone, so how much force will they deploy?”
“That’s not my role to calculate.”
“Give me a rough estimate.”
“The issue is who comes as guardian of the ritual. If they’re reviving Haseon-gu’s mask, it’s possible others among the Eight Immortals will come too. If even one of the Eight Immortals is there, retrieving your daughter will be difficult, I predict.”
“Let me ask more simply by comparison. Are these Eight Immortals stronger than Huang Po-guai?”
“Some are stronger, some aren’t.”
“You don’t know for sure.”
“The rank of the masks favors the Eight Immortals. But Huang Po-guai was originally a peak master in human form, while the Eight Immortals are still in the midst of restoration. In Nam Chaehwa’s case, I hear she only recently awakened her immortal power. Her skill is currently below Huang Po-guai’s, but precisely because of that, she won’t involve herself in martial conflicts.”
“Good. So below Huang Po-guai’s level, they won’t deploy for combat. Is that the right understanding?”
“As I said first, that’s not my domain. In truth, I’m not even certain any of the Eight Immortals will be there. It’s just speculation.”
“Elder.”
Danmun called Yeom Seoksan firmly.
The voice that came from his mouth next was no longer gentle.
“Oho has already set out. We need even one more solid piece of information to take with us. If not, there’s no point in stopping here.”
“Then let me say this. If any of the Eight Immortals are there, no matter who, don’t try to fight and win. Ma Gu Mountain is a blessed site, and blessed sites amplify the power of immortal masks. If you encounter one, your best choice is unconditional flight.”
“We’ll judge that by the situation, but noted. The most important question: Will your spells work on them too?”
“So you’ve been counting me as part of your forces.”
“Of course. You’re a spell master who can neutralize even a peak expert like Huang Po-guai. Naturally, we’d consider bringing you along.”
“Let me give the conclusion first. They won’t work on the Eight Immortals. Their systems are different.”
“Then stay here, Elder.”
Danmun gave up immediately.
His decision was so decisive that Yeom Seoksan had to ask again.
“Just wait here doing nothing?”
“We were only gradually piecing together clues about your daughter’s whereabouts. But now her exact location has suddenly been pinpointed. That in itself is suspicious.”
“You mean it might be a trap.”
“Yes. If you could serve as reliable firepower, it’d be different, but if not, you’d just be a hindrance. When you have two people to protect, the operation becomes four times harder.”
Danmun spoke with stark coldness.
Yeom Seoksan nodded.
“Then I’ll stay here.”
“We’ll raise the alert level on this house too. I’ll station multiple escorts, so bear with any inconvenience.”
“But... are you all going alone?”
“Why? Don’t trust us?”
“No offense intended. Haseon-gu is a precious mask. It’s true your daughter has immortal qi, but it’s too early for her to receive an Eight Immortals descent. Of course, they’ve always done things contrary to propriety. Still, they don’t handle masks carelessly. If Haseon-gu’s mask is there, they’ll station a powerful mask to guard it, no matter what. And a powerful mask means elder-level experts from the Nine Great Sects’ mountains—or beyond. By the Six Great Clans’ standards, it means deploying renowned transcendent masters whose names are well-known. You’re all young. I know your talents are exceptional, but... you’ll die.”
“Elder. We’re not going to win.”
“Not going to win?”
“Our role is to confirm your daughter’s face and assist her movement and escape. If combat breaks out, the Heaven-Destroying Squad will handle the fighting.”
“Heaven-Destroying Squad. You seemed better.”
“Not this time.”
Danmun said no more.
He turned and left through the door. Hyang stood in the outer courtyard.
“I leave it to you.”
“I’ll bring her back.”
Danmun answered briefly. He hurried away.
* * *
Mago was the name of a goddess.
She had many origins, but in general, Mago was revered as the great goddess, mother of all things.
Born as the primordial goddess or woman, she was believed to be linked to birth and creation. Not just in the Central Plains but in surrounding countries, she was worshipped with similar faiths.
Why ma (麻)?
Ma was a very ancient crop.
Ma was the raw material for making clothes. And clothes were what distinguished humans from animals.
The image of mothers and grandmothers weaving fabric was a common memory etched in everyone’s minds throughout the history of humanity.
It was no wonder that an ancient woman who handled ma was enshrined like a goddess. Thus, Mago was seen not as representing any special attribute, but as the universal mother goddess. Her miracles reflected this too. She granted ordinary wishes like marital bonds between men and women, safe childbirth for children, and so on. Temples to her could easily be found anywhere, regardless of era or region.
Ma Gu Mountain was a mountain named directly after this Mago.
It had beautiful scenery, with gentle mountain hues.
From ancient times, immortals had come and gone, leaving many legends.
On the mid-slope of a valley filled with the spectacle of waterfalls, one fairly large shrine stood. Naturally engraved on the plaque were the three characters: Ma Gu Temple. Over ten shrines of the same name dotted this ridge alone.
Though not a terribly high mountain, the sun set faster than in the lowlands. The mountain at night was frightening. Ma Gu Mountain was especially so. Legends held the aspirations of common folk yearning for immortals, but they also contained the people’s fear of things not human.
Incense pilgrims turned back before evening. From the start, signs prohibiting entry were posted midway up the mountain path to Ma Gu Temple, from the hour of shensi.
By sunset, no people remained.
The Daoists residing at Ma Gu Temple entered their cultivation caves. The grounds fell deathly silent. Only the lingering scent of daytime incense remained, like the temple’s master.
Whiiiiiing.
The wind blew.
The wind carried the scent of flowers.
A marten prowling the temple grounds caught the new fragrance. The nimble marten’s movements gradually slowed. Soon, it lay on its belly on the ground and fell asleep.
Even large animals seemed on the verge of sleep. Even animals as big as humans, that is.
As the red sunset dyed into the blue night, figures in white clothes burst from the forest. They wore white masks without mouths on their faces.