Chapter 102
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Demonic Roar Shakes Heaven and Earth
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“Even if Kunlun’s sealed itself off with rumors flying everywhere and there’s nothing we can do about that, what about Wudang? Can’t that Swordless Scholar handle it?”
As Ilseonja responded, the Golden Spirit Nun shook her head and raised an objection.
“No, for that lay disciple Hand Ilgi, that just won’t do.”
“You’re right. It’s clear he didn’t come here representing Wudang Sect.”
“Exactly. He was nothing more than a vagrant swordsman known by the alias Dodlight. The fact that he came here alongside that man makes his intentions highly suspicious.”
With the Golden Spirit Nun’s words bolstered by Sa Cheongbo and Sa Unbo chiming in like this, Ilseonja let out a sigh and shut his mouth.
“In any case, we can’t wait around for them forever, so let’s just proceed with the event two days from now as planned.”
With Zen Master Jin Hwi thus drawing a firm conclusion, Sa Unbo nodded and replied.
“Understood, then.”
But Ilseonja still tilted his head and muttered to himself.
“With two of the ten sects from the Nine Greats missing, how are we supposed to stand tall with two pillars gone from ten?”
No one paid any mind to Ilseonja’s mumbling, though.
Soon the Sa brothers left the guest hall, and Zen Master Jin Hwi and the Golden Spirit Nun returned to their rooms.
Left alone, Ilseonja drew the divination tube from his waist and began shaking it quietly.
A moment later, a few yarrow stalks emerged, and Ilseonja examined them.
His expression darkened as he studied them.
“The Demonic Roar Shakes Heaven and Earth hexagram... How could it be this ominous...”
* * *
In the end, the first Divine Wood Messenger, Gu Daejong, and the third, Geum Song, were escorted before Seonwoyong the next morning.
As the two entered the room under the guidance of attendants from the Six Gates, Jeon Sogi glared at them.
And as they took three more steps, Jeon Sogi’s roar erupted.
“How insolent! Won’t you two throw yourselves prostrate and pay your respects at once? This is the Supreme Cult Leader!”
Even after halting their steps, the two had stood rigidly, staring straight at Seonwoyong seated before them.
When they hesitated a moment longer, Jeon Sogi’s right hand, standing at attention behind Seonwoyong’s right side, shot forward in an instant.
A razor-sharp burst of palm force flew toward their lower bodies.
The force was so ingeniously precise that the only way for them to evade it was to topple forward.
Thus, the two Divine Wood Messengers naturally performed a full prostration.
Jeon Sogi withdrew his palm force as if nothing had happened and bellowed again.
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and offer your greetings!”
At last, Gu Daejong, the first of the Divine Wood Messengers, slammed his head against the floor six times and paid his respects.
“This disciple Gu Daejong dares to pay his respects to the Supreme Cult Leader. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand upon ten thousand!”
“Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand upon ten thousand. Geum Song pays his respects to the Supreme Cult Leader.”
The tone of their joint greeting differed.
While Gu Daejong’s had at least been earnest, Geum Song’s was utterly perfunctory.
Jeon Sogi scowled but didn’t press the issue further.
“Rise. You’ve both been through much hardship.”
Seonwoyong responded in a gentle voice, and the two stood, clasping their hands before them and standing reverently.
“Have you been well all this time? It’s been so long since we’ve revered your noble name, but this disciple has been unfortunate in only meeting you now.”
As Gu Daejong offered another greeting, Seonwoyong replied in an even gentler tone.
“I’ve done nothing for you all for so long. Well, is everyone in the cult faring well?”
“How could we not be well under the Honorable One’s watchful eye? From the Cult Leader on high down to the youngest acolytes below, all are well.”
“That’s truly glad tidings.”
“After so many years in seclusion, you’ve emerged into the martial world, and we’re ashamed to serve you this late.”
Seonwoyong’s questions and Gu Daejong’s answers were, of course, utterly formulaic.
“Well, is the Cult Leader well now?”
At last, Seonwoyong brought up U Gyeongcheon.
The atmosphere in the room chilled in an instant.
“Of course, the Cult Leader is well.”
That was all Gu Daejong said in reply.
His face was a tangled mess of tension, fear, sorrow, and more.
“That’s fortunate indeed. So, where is he now, and what is he doing?”
Seonwoyong’s voice grew equally complex as he followed up on U Gyeongcheon’s whereabouts.
Yet while Gu Daejong had readily answered the vague question of his well-being, his mouth didn’t open so easily regarding his actions.
Only after a pause did a curt reply emerge.
“We cannot properly track the Cult Leader’s noble movements.”
“Hmm... I see. I understand what you mean.”
Seonwoyong seemed ready to let it end there. But Jeon Sogi, standing behind him, wouldn’t let it slide.
“Hmph. Can’t you report it properly? This is the Supreme Cult Leader—the Cult Leader’s own father.”
Gu Daejong’s response remained steadfast, however.
“We cannot report what we do not know.”
“How dare you commit such insolence? Do you two wish to die right here?”
As Jeon Sogi pressed Gu Daejong once more, the hitherto silent Geum Song spoke up.
“You’ve already executed our second brother, so it wouldn’t be strange if you behead us two today as well. We came prepared for whatever judgment you pass.”
Geum Song’s face burned with righteous indignation.
“Ha ha. Enough of that. They’re valuable workers in the cult just like the rest—why torment them so?”
Seonwoyong addressed Jeon Sogi thus, then soothed Gu Daejong and Geum Song.
“So that child was the second. I’m truly sorry that happened. I didn’t have time to check who it was, nor did I intend to take his life, but it turned out that way. I fully understand your grievances, so let’s drop that now and get to the business you’ve brought.”
At Seonwoyong’s words, Gu Daejong bowed his head in acknowledgment and stated his purpose.
“The Cult Leader commanded us to relay this exactly.”
“Go on, then.”
Seonwoyong nodded, and Gu Daejong began conveying U Gyeongcheon’s message.
“First, he does not wish to see you now, so please understand. Second, swiftly hand over the Cult Leader’s divine seal, the Divine Wood Token, to these messengers. Third, hand over the Supreme Cult Leader’s honor plaque, the Divine Gold Token, to them as well. Fourth, once you’ve done those two things and settled on a residence, he will come to see you afterward. That is all.”
Jeon Sogi’s roar exploded the moment Gu Daejong finished.
“What nonsense is this? The Divine Wood Token aside, handing over the Divine Gold Token? Isn’t that telling you to leave the cult right now?”
Despite Jeon Sogi’s heated reaction, Gu Daejong remained calm.
“We disciples know no more and no less. We’ve relayed exactly what we were commanded to relay, so now we wish to receive your reply and depart.”
By now Jeon Sogi’s face was flushed beet red, and Seonwoyong’s expression had hardened.
“If you’re going to play it like this, we’ll have to settle it with force...”
As Jeon Sogi muttered this, Seonwoyong rebuked him in a stern voice.
“Enough. I said they didn’t come to fight.”
Then, in a gentle tone once more, he addressed Gu Daejong.
“Very well. I’ve heard you out. Now I’ll give my reply, so relay it back exactly.”
“This disciple washes his ears to listen.”
“First, see my face whenever you like—no need to hold back. Second, as for the Divine Wood Token, I intend to reclaim it now, so I’ll hand it over to you once it’s recovered. Third, I cannot hand the Divine Gold Token to you messengers like this, so have the Cult Leader come fetch it from me himself later.”
Seonwoyong fell silent after his reply, and a moment later Gu Daejong spoke.
“We have noted it to heart. We shall now return and report it exactly. May you live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand upon ten thousand.”
He prostrated once more, then slowly backed away.
At that moment, Seonwoyong called them back.
“Wait. Hold a moment.”
The two Divine Wood Messengers halted.
“That’s that, but I have a command for you now—carry it out.”
Tension etched their faces at Seonwoyong’s words.
“We are sorely lacking in many ways, so if it is a command we can fulfill, we shall humbly obey.”
Gu Daejong’s reply was exceedingly clever.
Of course, it meant he’d listen only if it suited him—but in truth, he had no intention of obeying.
Jeon Sogi wouldn’t stand idly for such a response.
“You insolent wretches. I can’t forgive this any longer. Leave your legs behind and go.”
With that, he thrust out his right hand once more.
It was the same technique as before, but this time it brimmed with killing intent, slicing straight for their knees.
It was Mad Radiance Monk Jeon Sogi’s signature technique, the Wild Tempest Heaven Net Qi, which had once shaken the martial world.
Unlike his usual mild and upright demeanor, once Jeon Sogi made a move, he exploded more ferociously than anyone.
A lifelong lover of painting who never set down his brush, inkstone, or paper, the moniker Mad Radiance Monk was well-earned.
The Wild Tempest Heaven Net Qi flew forth with its namesake murderous momentum.
Gu Daejong and Geum Song had no will to resist and simply stood there.
In that brief instant, countless thoughts flashed through their minds.
They had long resolved to give their lives for the cult’s affairs, but losing their legs would leave them in utter despair.
Shiiiik. Thud...
Yet their legs were not severed.
In that moment, a blaze of white radiance shot from Seonwoyong’s right hand, engulfing Jeon Sogi’s Wild Tempest Heaven Net Qi entirely.
“I told you to stop. When will you ever fix that temper of yours?”
Jeon Sogi’s technique had already vanished without a trace.
It was the cult-protecting divine art that only the Great Cloud Bright Religion’s Cult Leader could cultivate, the Northern Sea Divine Art—peerless among the world’s countless martial techniques, with no equal.
This was one of its core marvels.
The ability to absorb an opponent’s internal energy at will.
Jeon Sogi continued glaring at the two Divine Wood Messengers but could no longer act.
“Ha ha... It’s no great command, so don’t worry and hear it out.”
Only then did the two messengers regain their composure and bow their heads.
“We are deeply grateful. Please issue your command.”
“I heard Da jong’s child is nearby as well. Have that child come.”
Seonwoyong’s order was simple, but far from easy.
Gu Daejong let out a sigh before replying.
“We will surely relay it without fail. However, we cannot guarantee... so please...”
“Just relay it. Tell it to that child as a matter between master and disciple.”
Only then did the two Divine Wood Messengers bow their heads once more in acknowledgment and depart.