Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: If You've Discarded It, It's Best to Forget It Cleanly
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If you've thrown something away, it's best for your well-being to forget it completely.
Fights broke out between martial artists all over Dunhuang. They drew their weapons over the pettiest matters, as if they'd planned to fight from the start.
It was all because of the treasures of the Absolute Six Heavens.
Even though no one knew if any treasures had actually been found, anyone showing signs of having visited the old site of the Absolute Six Heavens would be threatened and forced to show what they had. If they refused, weapons came out. Of course, nothing like that happened around the White Lord's forces. These incidents mostly occurred late at night in remote, deserted spots. Travelers who hadn't emerged from inns for a while often became targets.
But there were people the martial artists didn't dare touch: those from the Absolute Five Heavens.
They were far too powerful to challenge, and getting on their bad side meant being hunted for life. So everyone gave them a wide berth.
Ak Muyoo had stayed at the inn for half a month and was now preparing to leave. Previously, he couldn't go because the wound on his shoulder hadn't healed.
"You gonna wear that?"
Ara pointed at the hat Ak Muyoo had placed on the table.
"The sun's brutal."
"You're putting on the sand-proof mask too, right?"
"Yeah."
Ak Muyoo donned the hat and hooked the sand-proof mask under his chin.
"And I have to wear this."
Ara indicated the armor on her left. It was the armor she'd worn on the battlefield.
It was the only proof of who she was, so she couldn't discard it.
Full of holes and tears, she'd left the inside intact and patched the outside as best she could.
"This should be enough."
Ak Muyoo pointed at the sand-proof mask and hat.
"They'll know you're a Wind Corps captain, but not that you're traveling with Heaven Rain General Adal."
"Probably."
"You should suit up."
Ara put on the armor. Ak Muyoo helped her.
"Let's eat before we go."
"Sounds good."
The two left their annex and entered the dining hall. It was still crowded with people.
Likely due to their unusual attire, everyone inside turned to stare.
Some of them were familiar faces.
It was the Hundred Radiant Demons crew. Ten of them occupied two tables.
"We meet again."
The Hundred Radiant Demons' leader, Great Demon Nae Baek, greeted them first.
"Mind if we sit?"
Ak Muyoo gestured to the empty seats at their table.
"Won't you take the empty table instead?"
"This one's more appealing."
Ak Muyoo sat across from Nae Baek.
At that table were Great Demon Nae Baek, Black Demon Gonok, White Demon Ta Bul Yeo, and their strategist, Earth Demon Neungak.
"Why sit here specifically?"
"To borrow a bit of your tiger's might with my fox's pretense."
"Fox borrowing tiger's prestige?"
"Innkeep!"
Ak Muyoo called out.
"Yes, sir?"
"The most expensive dishes. Four servings."
"Right away."
"And this old timer will foot the bill."
"......"
Nae Baek stared at Ak Muyoo in disbelief.
"Didn't get anything from there?"
"There?"
"The passage underground from the place I told you about?"
"It led underground, yeah. But everything left on the pillar had been erased. Recently too. Your doing?"
"What?"
"The martial arts secrets carved on the pillar."
"You think I need martial arts secrets?"
It seemed the place he'd pointed him to connected to some secret underground chamber.
"You might not need them, but your organization..."
"If I had an organization, I wouldn't be sitting here. I sat here to make it look like I'm on good terms with you old timers. Now people will say, 'That guy in the black hat and black robe was eating with Hundred Radiant Demons' leader Nae Baek.' It'll make them think twice before attacking me."
"So..."
"I've fought nonstop for the last ten years. I just want to live easy now."
The food arrived then.
"You're eating stuff we couldn't even order because it's too pricey."
White Demon Ta Bul Yeo remarked.
"That's why I ordered four servings. Go ahead and have some."
"......"
"Did I mention I was on the battlefield for ten years?"
"You said that just now."
"I said I'd fought nonstop for ten years, but not that it was the battlefield."
"Anyway."
"Five years ago, we clashed with the Blood Wolf Clan. Ten thousand Wind Corps troops went to hit them, but it was a trap. That night, seven thousand Wind Corps men died."
"Seven thousand really died?"
"Only three thousand survived, so yeah, seven thousand died."
"They could've run."
"No pay means no running. And the rule was the survivors split the dead's pay."
"......"
"Anyway, seeing those seven thousand dead taught me something: 'If you want to eat something, eat it without hesitation.' 'If you want to do something, do it without delay.' So live like that, old timer. You don't have many days left anyway. You get me?"
"......"
"Eat up."
"Heh heh heh!"
Ta Bul Yeo shook his head with a chuckle.
Ak Muyoo began eating. He chewed his food slowly and thoroughly. The others watched with interest.
What an insolent punk, yapping away in familiar terms, yet oddly likable.
"You're telling me to eat what I want without hesitation, but you're eating like you might not get another meal tomorrow."
"If I die in battle tonight, no breakfast. This might be my last meal ever—gotta savor it."
"......"
Then Nang Ok from the other table approached, grabbed a chair, and sat.
"Why the armor?"
She asked right away.
"I'm an Imperial Army general."
"A general?"
"Yeah."
"How's a woman a general?"
"Do I look like a woman now?"
"......So you're disguised as a man on the battlefield."
Nang Ok finally pieced it together.
"Right. Rank of Heaven Rain General Adal."
"Adal... that's the only son of the Heaven Rain Merchant House, isn't it?"
Earth Demon Neungak said.
"You know a lot."
"I'm the brains of the Hundred Radiant Demons."
"Must be the youngest too."
"How'd you know?"
"Old folks don't think sharp. And errands are for the young."
"Folks?"
"That's what you old timers call me."
"Sharp tongue."
"Ten years rolling in war'll do that."
"So you're in Wind Corps captain gear, and she's in general's armor."
"Yeah."
"Heard recently the Wind Corps rebelled and killed five generals. One was Heaven Rain General Adal."
"Too interested in the northern capital's affairs?"
"When you're in a position to wield influence in the martial world, you can't ignore it."
"Then you old timers are in deep trouble."
"What trouble?"
"Strangers don't chat so amiably over meals like us."
"You think we're being amiable right now?"
"We know we're not, but to outsiders? Especially Beggars' Sect eyes?"
"We can explain that easy."
"No, you can't."
Ak Muyoo shook his head.
"Why not?"
"This."
Ak Muyoo lightly flicked his right hand.
Clang!
The tip of the protruding Fear Fang embedded in the table. It stood at an angle.
All eyes turned to the Fear Fang.
"Why show it?"
Tension etched Nae Baek's face.
"Worried?"
Ak Muyoo stared straight at him.
"Worried about what?"
"Seems like you're worried it might be real."
"Is it real?"
Nang Ok asked, face flushed.
Ak Muyoo rolled up his sleeve without a word.
"M-My god. It's really the Mad Demon Armor!"
Nang Ok exclaimed excitedly.
Nae Baek and Earth Demon Neungak's faces hardened. They knew the storm the Mad Demon Armor would bring was massive. And it wasn't just the armor. That oddly shaped weapon stuck in the table.
"Then what's this?"
Nang Ok eyed the Fear Fang.
"If I say its name, you might have to kneel."
"I asked what it's called."
"Depends on your answer."
"What answer?"
"They say Dormant Demon Heaven is Fear Heaven's successor. True?"
"True."
"Then what's the Fear Fang—Fear Heaven's supreme divine relic—in Dormant Demon Heaven?"
"Nothing special."
Nae Baek answered.
Whoosh!
Ak Muyoo snatched the Fear Fang. It slotted perfectly back into place.
"Good eating."
Ak Muyoo stood.
"You haven't answered yet."
"If it's worthless, who cares if it's the Fear Fang or not? Right?"
"The Fear Fang is a Dormant Demon Heaven weapon."
"Not Dormant—Fear Heaven's supreme divine relic."
"Dormant Demon Heaven and Fear Heaven are one."
"That's your view. Not mine."
"Speak."
"I'll unravel it, so clean your ears and listen. Like I said, Fear Heaven and Dormant Demon Heaven have no connection. Some no-name demon heads banded together, wanting a fancy organization name. Something like Demon Alliance or Blood Cult sounded lame and unknown. So they picked the Fear Heaven from a thousand-plus years ago. Using it straight up was too obvious, so they came up with Dormant Demon Heaven. Then spread rumors it's Fear Heaven's successor. Meanwhile, collect Fear Heaven intel, scour old sites for relics. Plant a few plausible ones, and boom—perfect successors to Fear Heaven. How's that?"
"You know you're insulting Dormant Demon Heaven, right?"
"Saying the Fear Fang isn't Dormant Demon Heaven's is the insult? Or that some demon heads formed this group called Dormant Demon Heaven? Which?"
Whoosh!
Nae Baek shot to his feet.
"You're hilarious, old timer."
"What's so funny?"
"You won't admit the Fear Fang—Fear Heaven's supreme relic—but claim to be Fear Heaven's heirs. Makes sense to you?"
"......"
Nae Baek was speechless.
"Not long ago in the desert, there was this guy. Had a lover his family opposed, so he dumped her. She remarried elsewhere and lived well. But he regretted it—maybe jealous of her happiness. Didn't want to marry her, but killed her husband anyway. Guess what happened?"
"......"
"He died, his dad died, his mom died, his master died, his organization nearly wiped out. No longer called the Eight Desolation Whirlwind."
"So what's your point?"
"If you've discarded it, forget it clean—that's best for you. Clinging to an ex is the dirtiest. Right? Anyway, good meal."
Ak Muyoo turned.
"Hand it over, or die!"
Viscous killing intent poured from Nae Baek's body.