Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: It'll Soon Turn into a Mourning House
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“This is the place? The banquet hall where Sichuan’s grandest feast is supposedly underway.”
The bodies of the two guards stationed at the Nine Dragons Branch Family’s main gate stiffened rigidly.
It wasn’t just from fear.
The strangely chilling air that settled over them locked their joints in place.
Even their jaw joints wouldn’t budge, leaving them speechless.
All their eyes could take in was the funeral banners fluttering high in the sky and the procession of pallbearers in mourning clothes carrying the casket.
‘D-Demonic Cult…!’
They sighed in despair at the fact that they couldn’t warn of the enemy’s arrival—then their consciousness faded as if trapped in a block of ice.
The North Sea Sect Master passed them by and placed his hand on the main gate.
A vicious chill caused white frost to settle on the gate as well.
“It’s going to turn into a mourning house soon anyway. What a pity.”
Tsk!
With a light click of his tongue.
Creeeak—
The North Sea Sect Master flung the main gate wide open.
* * *
After the sparring match between Yunhwi and the Lion Slaughter King, a positive atmosphere flowed through the Nine Dragons Branch Family.
“The Demonic Cult showing up right under our noses is certainly something to be wary of—”
“But do we really need to be so scared?”
“Besides, it’s not like this is the old Demonic Cult, is it?”
The Dark Venerable had strictly warned against letting their guard down, but the martial artists’ sense of crisis was nowhere near as acute.
The kidnapping of the Three Righteous Envoys had been nothing more than a ploy, and the Demonic Cult’s scheme had been thwarted without significant losses—not even at the Tang Clan, but right there at the Nine Dragons Branch Family.
—Maybe this Demonic Cult isn’t the one we know.
It was only natural that such talk began to emerge bit by bit.
After all, the Demonic Cult had endured a bloody civil war over the past six years.
Their forces must have been drastically reduced compared to before.
And now that they’d even foiled a scheme, it was inevitable to question the Demonic Cult’s strength.
But that wasn’t all.
The Lion Slaughter King had ascended to the absolute ranks rivaling the Ten Great Masters of the world.
Yunhwi had gained fame on par with Iron Mountain.
Above all, the Dark Venerable was here.
The Green Ancestor Corps and the old Mad Wind Corps remained intact, and the renowned experts who had gathered from all over were all top-tier masters.
The Nine Dragons Branch Family’s current forces were already at an unprecedented level of might.
In the end, people reached a common conclusion.
—Even if we went to war with the Demonic Cult right now, there’s nothing to fear.
“Maybe… we’re actually ridiculously strong!?”
“Instead of just sitting around, why not hit the Demonic Cult where they’re at with our full strength right now?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying! Let’s put it to a vote on this matter!!”
The Dark Venerable had declared before everyone.
He would soon establish the Mad Wind Corps and personally pass on his martial arts.
The martial artists’ blood ran hot.
They all felt they had to catch the Dark Venerable’s eye as soon as possible.
And the best way to do that was, of course, to make a name for themselves.
If they racked up achievements in battle against the Demonic Cult, or displayed outstanding prowess and talent, wouldn’t that give them an edge in joining the Mad Wind Corps? That notion spread widely.
So the more hot-headed martial artists sought out the Vanguard Squad and expressed their intent to deploy.
Of course, all those requests were rejected.
It was too dangerous, they said.
But the martial artists didn’t accept it meekly.
“This is the Nine Dragons Branch Family trying to control us!”
“Yeah! They’re forcing us because they want to prioritize their own blood kin!”
“Let’s gather those who share our will first. A path will open naturally.”
The idea that ‘if we band together in greater numbers and convey our strong resolve, even the Dark Venerable will have to yield’ spread throughout the entire Nine Dragons Branch Family.
“…Isn’t this atmosphere too dangerous?”
Yu Su-min furrowed her brow as she overheard groups of people chatting in clusters of threes and fives.
Every conversation revolved around how the Nine Dragons Branch Family needed to take the lead in subjugating the Demonic Cult.
It was tormenting her ears even when she tried not to listen.
She worried that people, swept up in public opinion, might end up causing needless sacrifices.
Having clashed directly with the demonic practitioners just days ago, she knew full well they were far from pushovers as people claimed.
So when some approached her personally to join their cause, she rejected them outright.
But judging by the current mood, quelling public opinion wouldn’t be easy.
“Someone’s fanning the flames from behind the scenes, steering opinion in one direction.”
Yu Su-min’s eyes widened at Sima Seon-ui’s words.
“You mean there’s someone else leading public opinion?”
“Yeah.”
“I agree with Lady Sima. This flow feels too contrived. The opinion has formed way too quickly.”
Iron Mountain nodded gravely.
Tang Ye-won narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke.
“Should we mobilize the Green Ancestor Corps?”
“No. Let it be for now. Interfering rashly will only intensify the backlash. It’ll just play into the ringleaders’ hands.”
“I don’t like it. Do they think the Demonic Cult became pushovers just because they’ve had six years of peace?”
Tsk!
Tang Ye-won clicked her tongue lightly.
The Green Ancestor Corps would suffer the heaviest losses if battle broke out.
She’d come to cool her head, only to stumble into an even bigger headache.
“Let’s watch for now. If they’ve put this much effort into shaping opinion, they’ll reveal themselves soon enough.”
Tang Gyu-jin nodded.
“Senior Brother, you think they’ll come to us?”
“Of course. To pressure the Nine Dragons Branch Family, putting us at the forefront is their best bet.”
Iron Mountain’s eyes sank deeply.
He, too, who held justice and righteousness as his highest banners, strongly favored subjugating the Demonic Cult.
He believed the world could only find peace by driving out the demonic path.
But not like this.
The Nine Dragons Branch Family wasn’t just full of martial artists—there were also civilians from merchant houses and escort agencies.
Dragging them into war was unacceptable.
Matters of the martial world had to be settled within the martial world.
How much time passed like that?
“Speak of the tiger, and it appears—or in this case, it’s just a lowly fox.”
Tang Ye-won’s sharp gaze turned to one side.
A lanky middle-aged man with a cold demeanor was striding toward them boldly, flanked by a crowd.
Vagabond Fox Gong Son-beom.
Originally a third-rate ronin from the Hao Sect, known for his swift feet and silver tongue, he had skyrocketed in fame after being singled out by the Dark Venerable as one of the Eight Hidden Sages.
‘That bastard’s behind this. Trying to seize control before the Mad Wind Corps even forms.’
Tang Ye-won saw through the situation at a glance.
The Mad Wind Corps wasn’t just some anti-Demonic Cult strike force.
Membership alone would earn the envy of Sichuan’s martial artists.
Depending on how it was used, it could solidify one’s political standing.
In fact, the Dark Venerable’s announcement had already secured his absolute dominance not just in Sichuan, but across the western martial world.
The Vagabond Fox aimed to ride that wave and claim his spot early.
If he could rally this opinion and drag Iron Mountain, Tang Ye-won, and even the Three Righteous Envoys into it, all eyes would turn to him.
‘Then I wouldn’t even need to insist on the Mad Wind Corps commander position. No, better to stay behind the scenes, grabbing the real power without the duties. It’d make painting my ideal picture far easier.’
The Vagabond Fox was utterly convinced his plan would succeed.
The members of the Sichuan Heroes Alliance he knew were all fledglings dazzled by fame but clueless about worldly affairs.
“It’s an honor to meet the famed Azure Star Sword, Heavenly Phoenix of Heaven and Earth, and the Three Righteous Envoys. As for myself—”
“Disperse the crowd, Hero Gong Son.”
“!”
“What you’re scheming will only bring great harm.”
The Vagabond Fox clamped his lips shut for a moment.
He hadn’t expected Iron Mountain to cut in like that before proper greetings.
Heh.
A sly smile crept across his lips.
“It seems I’ve earned a solid misunderstanding from you, Hero.”
“Misunderstanding?”
The Vagabond Fox nodded.
“Indeed. I’ve merely stepped up to properly convey the will of the masses to the Nine Dragons Branch Family and the Dark Venerable.”
“So you’re just a simple mouthpiece?”
“Exactly. After all, us rootless wanderers of the martial world tend to favor swords over words, don’t we? That overabundance of chivalric spirit often leads to misunderstandings because intentions aren’t conveyed properly.”
“…….”
“Fortunately, I’m more famed for my tongue than my sword, so I volunteered as their spokesman. Thankfully, the righteous folk here agreed, allowing me to represent them.”
The people behind him nodded.
Iron Mountain and his group fell silent.
The Vagabond Fox took it as a sign they were coming around.
He beamed broadly.
“And so, on behalf of these righteous souls, I humbly request the Azure Star Sword and the Sichuan Heroes Alliance to join us in raising high the banner of Expelling Evil and Guarding Righteousness—”
“Bullshit.”
The Vagabond Fox’s smooth flow halted abruptly.
Tang Ye-won glared at him with blazing eyes.
The Vagabond Fox’s expression chilled.
“…I fail to understand how the Heavenly Phoenix can utter such crude words before the consensus of the righteous.”
“Hey. Don’t stir up needless trouble and get lost.”
“…….”
“The Mad Wind Corps isn’t even formed yet, and you’re already playing faction games. You think we’re idiots who wouldn’t notice?”
“…….”
The Vagabond Fox said nothing for a moment.
His opponent was the Dark Venerable’s granddaughter and vice-commander of the Green Ancestor Corps.
The weight of her words wasn’t something to brush off lightly.
A frigid tension hung between them.
Then the Vagabond Fox twisted one corner of his mouth and turned away.
‘I thought they were just fame-hungry kids, but as expected of a famed house? Interesting.’
“I only meant to voice the will of the righteous, but if that’s your stance, so be it.”
He departed with the same leisurely stride as his arrival.
“H-Hero Gong Son!?”
“H-How can this…!”
The crowd glanced between the Vagabond Fox and the Sichuan Heroes Alliance, then hurried after him.
Some shot resentful looks at Tang Ye-won.
“Always causing such a hassle.”
As Tang Ye-won grumbled and stowed her hidden weapons, the Three Righteous Envoys gave wry smiles.
Iron Mountain smiled bitterly.
“You could’ve persuaded him gently. Don’t be so harsh next time. It only breeds needless discord.”
“The problem with this ‘nice guy’ act of yours, Senior Brother, is that types like him don’t get convinced by words. You have to crush them with force to shut them up.”
“But if he uses this as an excuse to play the victim and sway even more with his cunning tongue, who knows how much greater harm it could cause.”
“If he tries any more tricks, we can just hang his head from a flagpole. Think he’d keep flapping his tongue then?”
Her words were brutally cold-blooded.
Iron Mountain sighed.
“Still, we’re the ones who must embody the true path. For the sake of those who admire us, respect us, rely on us—we must mind our words and actions carefully.”
“Ah, yes. You go on living so rigidly, Senior Brother. I could never manage that, even if I died.”
Iron Mountain shook his head at Tang Ye-won’s curt reply.
It seemed their differences would run parallel without ever converging.
In truth, whenever they met in private, the two always clashed over opinions.
Because what they pursued was entirely different.
‘Am I too stubborn, insisting only on my own justice? No. Even if they call me inflexible, I must hold to this attitude.’
Iron Mountain couldn’t abandon his convictions.
Otherwise, the world would flow according to everyone’s selfish whims and descend into chaos.
How could he truly uphold justice? It was a constant torment in his mind.
“That guy won’t let this slide so easily. What do you think he’ll do next?”
Then Tang Gyu-jin quickly changed the subject to dispel the chilly mood.
Iron Mountain replied.
“No, not yet. From our earlier exchange, it doesn’t seem like he could’ve stirred this up alone. I suspect he has solid backing.”
“Backing…?”
“The real ringleader might be someone whose political position shifts the more malicious opinion builds against our house.”
This time, Tang Ye-won cut in.
Tang Gyu-jin glanced between her and Iron Mountain. Were these the same people who’d just been arguing?
Then he realized there was only one person both could be referring to.
The Scholar.
He turned his gaze to where the renowned experts gathered.
The Scholar sat alone, sipping tea as if oblivious to it all.
Yet somehow, his usually clear eyes seemed darker than usual.
Right then.
Rumble!
From beyond the Scholar, toward the main gate, thunderous noise erupted as dark thunderclouds suddenly rolled in.
Reincarnated Demon God Temple