Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Western Duo
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Inner Pellet Robber Gang—who the hell are they?
This logistics hub that got raided was a natural fortress.
Located on the border between Jiao Nation and Yang Nation, this place was the core of the triangular trade linking Black Bamboo Sect, Golden Forge Sect, and the underground world.
Naturally, its security and defenses were airtight.
Unless a major sect launched a full-scale invasion, it was impossible to breach the defense forces and steal the cargo.
An attacking force of just under three hundred was absurd.
There are indeed wild cultivators in the world who don't belong to any major sect.
But among wild cultivators, those who reach Foundation Establishment are exceedingly rare.
Major sects operate on a rigorous division of labor.
Some make magic tools, some refine pills, some research spells, some focus solely on advancing their cultivation—things like that.
It's because the diverse talents and aptitudes of individuals harmonize that everyone can progress efficiently.
It's the most proven method, verified countless times by the cultivation world over eons.
Savages who handle everything themselves can never defeat civilized society.
Even a Single Spirit Root Holder would take decades to reach Foundation Establishment with such primitive methods.
In fact, it's said that in ancient times before sects existed, only Single Spirit Root Holders could reach Foundation Establishment.
Only major sects can field large numbers of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Considering that, you can roughly guess the robbers' origins.
They had to be a strike team from a major sect.
There are three sects near the incident site.
Victim: Black Bamboo Sect.
Fellow victim: Golden Forge Sect.
And Three Rings Sect, half-collapsed from civil war.
Even a child could guess who was behind the raid.
In response to this sudden calamity, the victim alliance participants huddled together in discussion.
It sounds pathetic put that way, but it was a strategy meeting attended by the top brass from both sects.
Over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators were present—a grand sight.
The topic: Has Three Rings Sect finally lost its mind?
Are they seriously asking for war?
Against two major sects, no less?
Three Rings Sect doesn't even have a single intact Core Formation cultivator!
If they wanted war, the power gap was too vast.
There are four continents in the world.
Roughly named after the cardinal directions: Black Bamboo Sect and Golden Forge Sect were on the Western Continent.
Both rank among the top five there.
Neither was something a Three Rings Sect crippled by civil war could challenge.
Attacking both at once was little more than a novel suicide attempt.
There had to be some hidden story behind it.
In the midst of the meeting, the door burst open as a messenger rushed in.
"Three Rings Sect has effectively disbanded due to internal strife!"
"What!"
The fragile thread holding Three Rings Sect together had snapped.
*****
At first, Seoran waited with faith.
The robber gang would be caught soon, and the stolen goods returned.
But the Foundation Establishment robbers had fled across the border into Yu Nation.
Still, Seoran endured.
The cultivation world has laws and procedures that must be followed.
She couldn't ignore societal norms just because she was in a hurry.
In cases like this, she had to wait for Three Rings Sect to capture and hand over the criminals.
The Black Scale Reverse Flow Blood Snake Inner Pellet could be retrieved later through negotiations, with appropriate compensation.
And today, an official notice appeared on the bulletin board.
Three Rings Sect had completely collapsed.
Naturally, the criminal extradition treaty was now void.
This left Seoran with no choice but to take independent action.
Regrettably, the time for self-rescue had come.
Seoran packed her bags with a calm mind.
Then she said to Geum Yeongyeong, who had been enjoying an unauthorized stay at her home.
"Geum Susa, I have somewhere to go. You can watch the house alone, right?"
"Huh? Where are you headed?"
Seoran gave a rough explanation about the Inner Pellet from the distant Black Scale Reverse Flow Blood Snake.
Geum Yeongyeong bolted upright in bed.
"I can't just sit by while a friend is in trouble! I'll help!"
"Geum Susa doesn't even have an outing pass."
"Doesn't one person in the group need it?"
Surprisingly, yes.
Even between Black Bamboo Sect and Golden Forge Sect.
It was like an international license.
Seoran said,
"Then go get permission from the delegation leader."
"Got it!"
After a spirited reply, she went to find the delegation head.
That Foundation Establishment cultivator was a relative on Geum Yeongyeong's maternal side.
The head cheerfully granted the outing.
It wasn't a big request.
By Golden Forge Sect rules, it was fine.
As long as both were Foundation Establishment cultivators, one pass allowed them both to go out.
They'd also considered their ages.
One was eighteen, the other twenty-one.
In the mundane world, they'd be married with kids by now.
If the two Single Spirit Root Holders became friends, it wouldn't hurt either sect.
So they made a slightly complacent decision.
They figured sightseeing in the mundane world wouldn't be dangerous.
At worst, she'd slay a few yokai on the way back.
Still, since she was like a great-grandniece, he didn't forget to warn her.
"Geum Susa, don't go anywhere too dangerous."
"Understood!"
Geum Yeongyeong, who was great at answering, nodded.
She hurried back to Seoran's house and said,
"All set—I got the outing permit!"
"Really?"
Seoran was flustered by the unexpected development.
But she quickly regained her composure.
Geum Yeongyeong might be unreliable, but she was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Right—one was better than none.
"Do you have a flying magic tool?"
"Of course! My uncle gave me one."
"Good—let's head out right away."
Thus, the Seoran-Geum Yeongyeong duo was formed.
*****
After crossing into Yu Nation, Geum Yeongyeong asked,
"But how are we going to find the raiders? Got some tracking spell or something?"
"Does Golden Forge Sect have spells like that?"
"No idea. Probably not?"
"Never heard of any."
"Come on, so how are we supposed to find them?"
"By pounding the pavement."
Of course, it wasn't entirely planless.
She intended to comb all of Yu Nation using her Insight Technique.
A three-hundred-man tail couldn't just vanish without a trace.
The two flew west, beginning their search.
A few days later, they spotted a Foundation Establishment cultivator in a large village cluster.
He was receiving lavish hospitality amid the culprits.
Too absorbed in eating and drinking to notice Seoran and Geum Yeongyeong, hidden by concealment spells.
The cultivator pulled a young woman beside him into his arms and shouted,
"Wonderful—truly wonderful. Wine, meat, and simple folk! This village suits me perfectly."
"Senior Jong is so magnanimous!"
As the young beauty coquettishly wriggled in his embrace, Senior Jong grew even happier.
Someone shouted loudly,
"Senior Jong! Why not take that girl as your wife while you're at it!"
"Hmm, my age is a bit of a sticking point..."
As Senior Jong hesitated, the crowd egged him on.
"What does age matter to a hero!"
"Exactly—a real man proves his worth through the years he's lived!"
"That girl already admires Senior Jong!"
The corners of Senior Jong's mouth crept upward.
A little more prodding, and he'd marry in and settle down.
That was precisely what the villagers wanted.
Watching this, Geum Yeongyeong asked,
"Super suspicious, right?"
"Yeah..."
The two held a quick strategy huddle.
"What do we do—keep our distance and observe?"
Seoran shook her head.
"No—if he links up with his comrades, it'll be a headache. Let's handle it here."
"With all those culprits around?"
"I've got a good idea."
Seoran's eyes gleamed.
First, the two donned conical hats.
Souvenirs bought from a village they'd passed.
They also masked their lower faces, just in case.
"Any weapons on you?"
"Naturally."
Geum Yeongyeong fiddled with her beaded bracelet.
Two iron beads flashed and transformed into a pair of heaven-piercing halberds.
Normally controlled by magic, but sturdy enough for use as straight weapons.
Two women in conical hats, masks, and cultivator robes wielded heaven-piercing halberds.
They looked every bit the fearsome warriors.
Preparations for the play were complete.
Now it hinged on their acting.
The two strode into the village cluster.
The revelers spotted the warriors and exchanged glances.
Uninvited guests had arrived, throwing them into panic.
Those who come unbidden are ill-intentioned; the benevolent do not intrude.
The Shim clan villagers didn't think the intruders meant well.
The two delivered their pre-rehearsed lines.
"Stand aside if you're uninvolved."
"We're here only to settle a grudge."
They even matched their tones, sounding like one voice continuing.
But it was unmistakably youthful.
A muscular brute leaped up and bellowed,
"Who the hell are you bitches, daring to cause a ruckus in Shim clan village! You must want a thrashing from this old man!"
He reached for Seoran to snatch her weapon.
He was known in the village for his fighting skills.
He'd dismissed her due to her voice and small frame.
Seoran pushed him away with one hand.
Despite the light gesture, he couldn't hold his ground.
Hurled back by her superhuman strength, he tumbled.
Unhurt but dazed.
The able-bodied men around rose in a wave.
Just as bloodshed seemed imminent, Senior Jong said quietly,
"Everyone, sit. These seem to be guests here for me."
Having seen Seoran and Geum Yeongyeong with his Insight Technique, Jong Susa grasped the purpose of this little drama.
They wanted to chase off the mundanes for a private cultivator chat.
Jong Susa, now standing, pointed to the shrine in the village center.
"Let's talk somewhere quiet."
Seoran and Geum Yeongyeong followed him into the shrine.
Inside the cramped space, the three faced off.
Seoran, blocking sound with concealment, shouted immediately,
"How dare you rob Black Bamboo Sect and Golden Forge Sect cargo! You'll pay the price!"
Geum Yeongyeong excitedly yelled,
"Yeah! Lawless scum deserve to die bleeding!"
Jong Susa asked, puzzled,
"Me, robbing cargo? What are you talking about? And how, alone?"
"With your three hundred comrades, obviously!"
"Right, right! Everyone knows you're with Three Rings Sect's robber gang!"
"I was with Three Rings Sect once, sure. But a robber gang? When did this happen?"
Seoran glanced aside and asked,
"About ten days ago?"
Geum Yeongyeong nodded in reply.
"Yeah, around then."
Jong Susa said,
"I've been in this village over two months. Ask anyone. Cargo? Robber gang? Never heard such nonsense."
An ironclad alibi emerged.
He wasn't the lawless one.
The lawless duo was Seoran and Geum Yeongyeong, who'd ruined the feast.
The outlaw duo exchanged desperate glances.