Chapter 76
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Mad Wind Sands
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Jeon Sogi slowly helped up the Six Gates Immortal who had been sitting there.
“Alright, let’s go. I’ll escort you all the way there.”
But Seong Ilchung stepped in front of the two and added a word.
“That won’t happen. Our cult’s experts have woven a heaven-and-earth net around the Kunlun Sect, so no one can enter or leave. If you head there, a major disaster is bound to strike.”
“Who dares stand in my way? Unless Cult Leader U himself steps forward.”
When Jeon Sogi shot back with irritation, Seong Ilchung calmly continued.
“No one would dare block the old master. But if the Sword Immortal enters Kunlun Mountain, our cult’s experts will have no choice but to return to the Kunlun Sect.”
Jeon Sogi had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Seong Ilchung pressed on earnestly.
“You may not realize it, but if that happens, the Kunlun Sect won’t survive in the world any longer. Is that truly what the Sword Immortal desires?”
The Six Gates Immortal, barely on his feet, let out a heavy sigh.
“Your words are entirely correct. Then I’m a wretch without even a proper plot of land to be buried in.”
Irritated by the Six Gates Immortal’s words, Jeon Sogi snapped back.
“Don’t spout nonsense. You think no one in this wide world can purge that mountain leech poison? We’ve bought a month’s time now, so follow me and trust in your brother.”
“I suppose you’re right. In the end, I have no choice but to entrust my life to Brother Jeon.”
The two turned away from Seong Ilchung and slowly stepped out into the alley.
Seong Ilchung simply cupped his hands in salute to see Jeon Sogi off.
“Old master, please take care. I’ll make sure to bring the three jars of Dong-i liquor next time.”
“Very well. You take care as well. Tell Cult Leader U I’ll visit him soon, so don’t let him press the matter.”
“Understood. I’ll relay it exactly as such.”
Once the two elders had completely vanished from sight, Seong Ilchung let out a deep sigh.
He then softly called out into the empty air.
“Come out now. The old master has departed.”
Sure enough, moments later, the three Divine Wood Emissaries slowly revealed themselves.
“The Divine Wood Emissaries greet the Phoenix Flag Commander.”
As the three offered cupped-hand salutes, Seong Ilchung returned the gesture.
“You’ve all worked hard. Report this matter to the Cult Leader exactly as it happened.”
“We shall. With those two traveling together like that, the Cult Leader will likely feel at ease.”
It was Gudaejong, the foremost of the Divine Wood Emissaries.
“But where is the Cult Leader now? I heard he headed to Shaanxi. I’m curious if all went well.”
Gudaejong smiled at Seong Ilchung’s question and replied.
“The Commander need not worry. He obtained everything he desired.”
“That’s welcome news indeed. I don’t know what took him all the way out there, but to have gotten all he wanted. Then he must be on his way back now?”
“Indeed. We don’t know his exact path, but we’ve heard he’s already entered Qinghai.”
Seong Ilchung nodded.
“Good. Then I’ll head to the main headquarters to meet the Cult Leader. The three emissaries, keep up the good work. That said, you’ll need to keep watch over the Six Gates Immortal from now on as well.”
Gudaejong offered another cupped-hand salute.
“Quite so. With the Six Gates Immortal now in the mix, we’ll watch over them all together. Until next time.”
The three Divine Wood Emissaries left Seong Ilchung behind and slowly departed down the alley.
Seong Ilchung watched their retreating figures, lost in thought for a moment, then leaped into the air.
* * *
The blue waves of Qinghai Lake rippled along the left side of the winding hill path.
The Shenzhou Merchant Group’s caravan, having crossed endless grasslands for a full month, was passing the northern boundary of Qinghai Lake.
The wagon covers were all threadbare and tattered, and the travelers’ clothes were frayed and shabby.
Dunhuang was now just a few days’ journey away.
Yet since yesterday, Chaepil’s Black Wolf Corps had vanished from around the Shenzhou caravan.
Yesterday morning, Seonwoyong had suddenly led them ahead, overtaking the caravan and taking point.
Half a day’s distance from where the Shenzhou caravan was marching.
It was the spot where the grassland path ended after departing Qinghai Lake, and a narrow mountain pass amid jagged rocks was just beginning.
Hundreds of riders clad in black wind capes filed in two abreast.
Seonwoyong and Chaepil rode at their vanguard.
Seonwoyong glanced up at the pass and asked Chaepil.
“We’re almost there.”
“Indeed. We’ll meet them soon.”
“How many of them remain now, exactly?”
“Three bands of three hundred each.”
“Hmm… They’ve crumbled quite a bit. Even the realm-famous Mad Wind Sands are down to less than a thousand.”
“Even so, they remain the Mad Wind Sands.”
“True. They are the Mad Wind Sands—the true masters of this vast expanse.”
Seonwoyong nodded to himself as he repeated the words.
In the vast deserts and grasslands of the western Central Plains, spanning Qinghai and Gansu, the most renowned armed band was none other than the Mad Wind Sands.
Groups like the northern Ice Palace, the eastern Tungying Salmak, the southern Southern Barbarian Five Poisons Cult, and the western Xijiang Podalha Palace were collectively dubbed the Borderlands Four Powers—often excluding the Great Desert’s Mad Wind Sands—but that was no slight against them.
If anything, the opposite was true.
For the Mad Wind Sands alone boasted a glorious history of invading the Central Plains and holding dominion over it.
Among the Mongol horsemen, they were the mightiest warrior elite.
Whoever commanded them ruled not just the grasslands, but the world itself.
Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan were the exemplars.
In the era when the Mongol Empire spanned from the world’s eastern edge to its western, the Mad Wind Sands were their spearhead and their shield.
But with the Yuan Dynasty and most Mongol empires faded into history, the Mad Wind Sands were now little more than bandits.
And they were the very force Seonwoyong now led the Black Wolf Corps to meet.
Seonwoyong leaned down and drew the bronze staff secured to his saddle, gripping it in his left hand.
Of course, it was the Victory Sword, untouched for some time.
* * *
Nodeuk and Somyeongcho now peered anxiously down from the pass.
By their calculations, the Shenzhou caravan ought to be climbing this pass today.
It was the unavoidable route from Lanzhou to Dunhuang, and with prior arrangements made with the Black Wolf Corps, there was little fear of mishaps.
Nodeuk turned his head, surveyed the surroundings, and cocked his brow.
Some three hundred warriors lay sprawled about, their sorry state pitiful to behold.
It was past noon now, the sun’s fiercest hour.
With no shade to be found in this open grassland, they lay huddled in the shadows of their own mounts.
Unlike the two fidgeting nervously, the men snored away as if the upcoming heist were too much bother, relishing their naps.
Not a single sentry stood watch, nor was a soul awake.
Somyeongcho, beside him, clucked his tongue and whispered.
“Look here, Brother No. Do those really look like the famed Mad Wind Sands warriors? Not one seems under fifty—they’re all decrepit old coots, no?”
“Hey, keep your voice down. If they hear…”
Nodeuk whispered, glancing about warily, but Somyeongcho pressed on unconcerned.
“Can’t you see? They’re all dead to the world like that—what’s there to hear?”
Indeed, the elderly warriors lay scattered helter-skelter, snoring away without a twitch.
To Somyeongcho’s eye, they lacked even gleaming arms; their threadbare rags marked them as mere ragtag bandits.
“We’ve already forked over five hundred taels of gold and handed them the Shenzhou caravan’s cargo list, so they’ll handle it. We just sit back, watch, and grab our cut.”
True enough.
Once these men ambushed the Shenzhou caravan and seized its goods, it would be their turn.
Gold bars and silk bolts weren’t food or drink.
After paying the men their due, they’d take possession of the Shenzhou cargo and deliver it to the Hyeongyang Merchant House manager waiting in Dunhuang—their mission complete.
Moments later, unable even to endure the tedium, Nodeuk and Somyeongcho began nodding off themselves.
That was when it happened.
One warrior among them—especially ancient—sat up, scratched vigorously at his crotch, and grumbled irritably.
“Damn racket… Can’t even get a wink of sleep.”
It was none other than the Mad Wind Sands’ chieftain, the Mixed Origin Great Desert God Kuluy.
Nodeuk and Somyeongcho jolted awake, hearts pounding—had the men overheard them?
But Kuluy simply rose fully and bellowed to the surroundings.
“You useless lot! Get your asses up! The guests are here!”
Nodeuk and Somyeongcho started at the shout.
Guests?
Nothing met their eyes, no sound reached their ears.
Yet at their leader’s roar, the Mad Wind Sands crew rose casually, stretching and muttering complaints.
“Hey, chief, what’s with the early wake-up call? Still a good hour left, by the sound.”
“Yeah, they say hearing’s the first to go with age, but this one’s counting years from his asshole. Heh heh…”
“Easy there. He’ll pitch a fit if he hears. Old timers get touchy. Remember last time we polished off that booze ourselves? Sulked for ten days straight. Heh heh…”
“Chief’s getting on too. His dawn farts ain’t got the oomph anymore. Heh heh…”
More than half the three hundred jabbered on in such vein.
Nodeuk and Somyeongcho could only gape at each other, dumbfounded.
But Kuluy, unmoved by the jabs, bellowed again.
“You sorry sons of bitches! Guests incoming—least you could do is splash some water on your mugs and scrape the horse shit off your saddle sores! You, the Mad Wind Sands’ Hundred-Victory Knights, who boast one against a hundred!”
* * *