Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Bandits in the South, Demonic Cult in the North
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Qinghai Province.
On its western border.
An old pavilion from which one could see the Demonic Cult's territory with the naked eye.
Three men were sitting there right now.
One of them, Ma Yu, the shadowy strategist of the Murim Alliance, let out a deep sigh.
“Haa.”
“…Ma Yu.”
Seeing this, Zhuge Tak, the Alliance's chief strategist, scolded him.
“Don’t show such weakness. The enemy camp is right in front of us.”
“…Sorry. The situation’s just so frustrating.”
Though he scolded him, Zhuge Tak understood Ma Yu’s sigh.
Deep down, he felt like sighing himself.
And with good reason…
“What the hell is going on? Bandits rise up in the south, and now the Demonic Cult in the north…”
“…Tell me about it.”
When the Green Forest bandits first killed the Alliance’s spies, it seemed a bit extreme, but not a major threat.
Bandits were the weaklings of the jianghu.
He’d thought a single subjugation force like the Dragon Slayer Squad would be enough to crush them.
But shortly after the Dragon Slayers left, word came that they’d all been killed or captured.
That alone was enough to stir up the usually quiet murim, but compared to what followed, it was nothing.
A Demonic Cult elder had severed the right arm of the Kunlun Sect leader.
If the Dragon Slayers were just one of the Alliance’s many armed units, the Kunlun leader was one of the greatest powers in the righteous murim.
For a mere elder—not the Cult Leader, Vice Leader, or even Grand Elder—to defeat the head of one of the Nine Great Righteous Sects…
‘The order of the world, led by the Murim Alliance, could be reshaped by a new power structure.’
If the Demonic Cult rose from this and became one of two poles dividing the world…
‘Two suns cannot coexist.’
It would mean the start of the Great War Between Good and Evil.
To prevent this, the Murim Alliance had moved a somewhat excessive force to Qinghai.
And now… the Alliance’s three representatives were waiting ahead of schedule at the agreed meeting spot for talks with the Demonic Cult’s envoy.
With time still to spare before the appointment, the three waited tensely for the Cult’s representative to arrive.
As the boring time dragged on, Ma Yu quietly spoke up.
“There’s chaos inside right now. Especially hard to handle the Kunlun side’s fury. They’re shouting to charge straight into the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”
“…That’s foolish talk, Ma Yu. Did you predict the Demonic Cult elder would outmatch the Kunlun leader?”
“…No, not at all.”
“With their full strength still unknown, charging into their home base would be like walking into a demon cave. And besides…”
Zhuge Tak closed his eyes briefly and continued.
“The Alliance Leader desires peace.”
“……”
The Alliance Leader’s word wasn’t absolute in the world, but the Murim Alliance had no choice but to move as he wished.
And…
Wishing for peace wasn’t exactly a wrong choice.
“Our goal in these talks is to halt further clashes, even if it means bending a little.”
“But, Chief Strategist, even when bending, shouldn’t we know what they want? If you have any guesses…”
“…No clue.”
“…Pardon?”
Even Zhuge Tak, hailed as the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang, looked foolish shaking his head tensely, thought Ma Yu.
“If they meant to occupy or burn Qinghai, they’d have charged Kunlun right after slicing off the leader’s arm. How am I supposed to know what those lunatics who just cut the arm and left are thinking?”
“…You’re right.”
It was the Demonic Cult bastards who’d made this sharp-minded man look like a fool.
Hiding such power all this time, then crossing the border just to cut off an arm and leave—it was utterly inscrutable, the mindset of those fanatics.
“And I’m worried not just about those fanatics, but the southern bandits too.”
Ma Yu said this, recalling the Dragon Slayer Squad leader Dokgo Young, who’d died this time.
A good friend, lost so easily—it was truly regrettable.
“With the Murim Alliance one step removed, what if those bandit scum use this chance to rise up too…?”
“Don’t worry too much. The Righteous Sword Hero Liu Jeong has gone to Hunan.”
“Ah…! Sword Hero Liu…? Then I can relax…”
“Enough.”
“…!”
Just as Ma Yu’s words were about to continue, a voice came from the one who’d been silently sitting until now.
It was Hyun Jin, the Wudang elder attending as escort to the two strategists.
He’d had his eyes closed in meditation since arriving at the pavilion, but now he slowly opened them and continued.
“The two of you, hold your tongues now.”
“You mean right now…”
“Yes.”
Hyun Jin’s eyes calmly gazed ahead. Precisely toward the distant Demonic Cult territory.
And there…
Step-.
“One is heading this way right now.”
…A single old man in black robes was walking toward the pavilion.
Not using lightness skill, just taking slow steps one by one—his figure evoked not a martial artist, but an ordinary elder…
“…….”
…But Hyun Jin, the highest skilled here, sensed something and quietly placed a hand on his sword.
Step-, step.
As the old man approached step by step, the two strategists felt a growing chill and swallowed hard.
“…Alright, let’s find out now. What those fanatics want.”
**
Soon, as the old man reached right before the pavilion, the three stood and cupped their fists in greeting. Then Zhuge Tak, at the front, spoke as representative.
“I am Zhuge Tak, chief strategist of the Murim Alliance. Behind me are Wudang elder Hyun Jin and my aide Ma Yu. Pleased to meet you.”
“…….”
The old man from the Demonic Cult simply stared silently.
‘Disrespect?’
Ma Yu thought this, seeing he didn’t return the fist-cup.
In the jianghu, not returning a greeting fist-cup to one who offered it was like declaring no regard for courtesy.
Ma Yu wondered if the Demonic Cult was scorning the Alliance, but…
Swish-.
“…Ah, my apologies. It’s been so long since I’ve seen the gesture… Our Cult has no such etiquette; I’m unfamiliar. Please understand.”
“No need to mind it.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
…Evidently unfamiliar with the gesture, the old man soon awkwardly returned the fist-cup and bowed his head.
His friendly demeanor left all three a bit flustered.
Righteous folk usually pictured the Demonic Cult as twisted, ominous types.
Yet this old man, though his aura was strange, showed no ominousness in his attire or face.
“May I have your name?”
“Hmm… In our Cult, I’m called the Black Luo Wild King. That’ll do.”
Black Luo Wild King…
A nickname ill-suited to his refined appearance. And with “King” to boot…
In righteous murim, “King” was a complimentary title for those reaching exceptional realms beyond the norm. But he’d heard it was standard for Demonic Cult elders.
So this old man was a Cult elder…
The Cult leadership was divided into Cult Leader, Vice Leader, Grand Elder, and elders all with equal power.
With the Leader and Vice not handling external affairs, an elder meant someone fairly high-ranking.
Thus, Zhuge Tak cut straight to the point without delay.
“Your side clearly overstepped this time. What do you think of the incident?”
“…….”
Ma Yu could see from the usually laid-back chief strategist’s urgency his will to resolve this quickly.
In contrast… the Black Luo Wild King…
“Hmm…”
…Stroked his beard like an immortal, showing leisure.
At last, his mouth slowly opened…
“In our Cult’s view of this incident…”
…Zhuge Tak and Ma Yu tensed, awaiting his words.
**
“Muyeon, the Beggars’ Sect sent word they’ll mediate this matter.”
“Phew… Good. Damn…”
Truth be told, the Beggars’ Sect was key here. Without their help, even attempting talks with the Alliance would be impossible.
But fortunately, Uncle Mun Seok had secured their mediation.
“That uncle of mine sure is capable, huh?”
“Heh heh… Just that much?”
“Hm?”
Uncle Mun Seok’s face looked oddly triumphant, like a kid fishing for praise.
“I found out who’s coming as the Alliance representatives.”
“Ooh!”
Know your enemy, win every battle.
I’d also asked him for details on who from the Alliance.
I hadn’t expected it to be easy, but he’d pulled it off.
“Uahaha! First time I wanna kiss an uncle past forty! So! Who is it? Who’s coming here as rep?”
I didn’t know righteous experts well, but I had the original novel’s knowledge.
If it was someone I knew, I could prepare somewhat.
But…
“Erm… Well…”
…Uncle Mun Seok’s face turned subtle again as he tried to speak.
He’d been doing that a lot lately.
“What now? Don’t tell me the Alliance Leader himself is coming? Oh, right, he went to Qinghai.”
“N-No, not the Leader, but someone on par with him…?”
“What? On par with the Alliance Leader?”
…That meant quite the big shot.
“And the one coming has ties to you…”
“A righteous expert on par with the Alliance Leader has ties to me…?”
……I don’t know anyone like that?
“So who’s coming?”
“Well…”
At last, Uncle Mun Seok’s mouth opened.