Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Running Ahead
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The Shenzhou Merchant Group's caravan wound its way up the hilly path and arrived at the scene around lunchtime the next day.
There, the remnants of a massive bonfire remained, and Seonwoyong sat alone, drinking. No one else was in sight.
Several empty liquor jars lay before Seonwoyong, and he was thoroughly drunk.
"Let's rest here a bit. Give the horses a break and have a quick lunch."
Sa Hongcheon halted his horse near where Seonwoyong sat and called out.
Having climbed hills all morning, the horses were soaked in sweat, foaming at the mouth—a natural call to stop.
With dozens of wagons settling in, the area kicked up a whirlwind of dust.
The dust storm swept toward Seonwoyong too, but he didn't budge, merely tilting his cup.
Soon, Sa Hongcheon—his tasks done—led Bang Choong, Jin Seolhwa, Dogwang, Han Sojung, and others toward Seonwoyong.
Seonwoyong's demeanor was utterly strange right now.
His face was flushed, his eyes glazed, his expression one of utter despair.
"Brother! What happened? You all right?"
Han Sojung was the first to rush over.
"Whoa, you. If you were gonna throw a bash like this, you should've grabbed me sooner."
Dogwang plopped down across from Seonwoyong, picking up a stray cup rolling nearby.
But Seonwoyong offered no reply, no reaction at all.
As Dogwang poured and downed a cup himself, Sa Hongcheon voiced his curiosity.
"Hey. What happened? Weren't the Guangfeng Temple bunch supposed to wait here...?"
Meanwhile, Bang Choong scoured the surroundings and spotted half-melted arrowheads, broken blades, and other metal scraps amid the bonfire ashes.
Moyong Cheong, Elder Jang, and others gathered beside him, eyeing the finds.
"Looks like a cremation site for sure."
Moyong Cheong spoke first.
Bang Choong nodded, holding a melted sword hilt in one hand.
"Seems so. The hilt suggests it's not from the Black Wolf Corps. Must be Guangfeng Temple's."
"But that blade shape is odd. Like it was sliced clean with a razor..."
Moyong Cheong's eyes were sharp.
When the severed blade portion turned up nearby, Bang Choong picked it up and fitted the pieces together.
The melted edges prevented a perfect fit, but it was clear they'd once been one.
"A massive cleaver sword. Hmm, only one person at Guangfeng Temple wields something like this..."
Bang Choong muttered, sinking into grim thought.
Moyong Cheong turned from him and approached Seonwoyong, still drinking.
Sa Hongcheon, Han Sojung, and the rest, getting no answers from Seonwoyong, returned to their posts. Only Dogwang stayed, matching drinks.
As Moyong Cheong stood before the pair, hesitating, Bang Choong's gruff voice rang out.
"Kid. Why the hesitation? If you're curious, ask. If you want something, take it. A hesitant life gains nothing. Heh heh heh..."
He plopped down beside Dogwang, handing over the cleaver hilt he'd held.
Dogwang set down his cup and examined the hilt closely.
Bang Choong snatched Dogwang's cup, sniffing it.
"Whoa, this is prime mare's milk liquor, ain't it? Lemme have a taste."
As Bang Choong poured and drank from it, Dogwang scrutinized the cleaver hilt long and hard before tossing it to the ground.
"You've caught the Divine One, have you?"
At Dogwang's mutter, Bang Choong and Moyong Cheong's eyes sharpened briefly before softening.
Moyong Cheong stared a moment longer, then withdrew.
Bang Choong retrieved the discarded hilt.
"So this is that person's? How'd you know?"
Bang Choong pressed, but Dogwang's lips stayed sealed.
Moments later, Sa Hongcheon's bellow echoed again.
"Time to move out. Everyone, to your wagons and horses."
At his command, the caravan mounted up and prepared to depart.
But Seonwoyong showed no sign of stirring, nor did Dogwang or Bang Choong.
Suddenly, Seonwoyong stood and spoke.
"I'll head out first. Take your time."
He vaulted onto Gwiroa's back beside him and galloped west.
The rest gawked, dumbfounded, at his retreating figure.
"Who was that for?"
Bang Choong tossed out to no one in particular. Dogwang replied lightly.
"Who else? All of us."
Sa Hongcheon approached them.
"You've pieced it together, huh? Care to fill me in?"
Bang Choong chucked the hilt at Sa Hongcheon.
"Looks like Kullui the Primordial Great Demonic God's cleaver. He slew the Divine One."
Sa Hongcheon's jaw dropped, along with everyone listening.
"You mean... he took on Guangfeng Temple alone and beheaded their leader?"
Jin Seolhwa gasped in shock. Bang Choong nodded, pointing out traces around them.
"See here. Hundreds of cavalry faced off—at least. They clashed, but no full-scale mounted battle. This big fire pit? Cremation remains. And this came from there."
Sa Hongcheon peered at the hilt in his hand and probed further.
"So you're saying this confirms it's the Primordial Great Demonic God's?"
Bang Choong nodded, wrapping it up.
"Take these two's word for it. He's Dogwang now, but once the Myriad Sword Scholar."
Dogwang showed no reaction, simply summoning his disciple Ita Jeong.
"Boy. Fetch two horses, quick. We need to catch that man."
But Moyong Cheong was faster.
He'd already brought his horse and a spare, handing the reins to Dogwang.
"I've got the extra ready. Let's go."
Dogwang gave Moyong Cheong a meaningful glance and mounted swiftly.
"I'll tag along."
Bang Choong was already up, Ita Jeong hurrying to join with his horse.
Sa Hongcheon panicked.
"Where to? Leaving the caravan unguarded—who knows what danger—"
Bang Choong cut him off curtly.
"You're killing me. Where else? Dunhuang. And who'd dare hit this caravan now? With Guangfeng Temple's Primordial Great Demonic God dead—these were his prey!"
Sa Hongcheon finally nodded.
He grasped the scale of the incident before them.
Word would spread across Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Shaanxi—soon the whole Central Plains—shaking the world.
"Understood. Dunhuang's five days by wagon, but three at horse speed. Go on ahead. We're staying at the Blue Dragon Inn there—we'll meet up."
"Blue Dragon Inn... Got it. We'll be waiting. Take your time."
Dogwang and Ita Jeong had already galloped off with Moyong Cheong. Bang Choong chased after.
As Sa Hongcheon shook his head, watching them go, another horse suddenly bolted.
Unexpectedly, Jin Seolhwa spurred her mount forward.
"What in the world, Lady Jin?"
"No worries—come slow. I'd regret not going with them."
Ignoring Sa Hongcheon's concerned gaze, Jin Seolhwa whipped her horse.
And so, five masters peeled off in pursuit, racing toward Dunhuang.
Surprisingly, Elder Jang now led the Great Fortune Merchant Group.
Nominally Han Sojung—known as Young Master Seonwoo—should, but his youth made it impossible.
With the five gone, no one remained in the train's rear worth eavesdropping on.
"Young master. What do you make of that Seonwoyong fellow?"
Elder Jang asked Han Sojung gravely.
Han Sojung, oblivious to the intent, answered breezily.
"What kind? A benefactor, that's what."
Elder Jang sighed.
"Do you know who Kullui the Primordial Great Demonic God is?"
"How should I? Some big-shot bandit chief around here, right?"
"Time you learned the current Jianghu. You know the Central Plains has thirty-three absolute masters: Three Hidden Ones, Four Wonders, Five Divinities, Six Immortals, Seven Kings, Eight Eccentrics?"
Han Sojung nodded.
"Who doesn't? Even non-martial folk know those names."
"But beyond the Central Plains, in the borderlands, there are equals. Among them, the Four Hegemons of the Borderlands are said unbeatable even by Six Immortals or Seven Kings."
Only then did Han Sojung react.
"So that Primordial Great Demonic God is one of the Four Hegemons?"
"No. Truth be told, Guangfeng Temple may outscare them, and the Primordial Great Demonic God outpowers their chiefs."
"Wait—what're these Four Border Powers and Hegemons?"
"The Four Powers are just four forces outside the passes: Eastern Frontier, Northern Sea, Southern Man, Western Qiang. The Hegemons are separate—famed martial groups beyond."
"Oh, so anyway, that Primordial Great Demonic God—Guangfeng Temple's boss—was a powerhouse, and Seonwoyong brother beat him?"
"Yes."
"And? So what?"
Elder Jang sighed, eyeing Han Sojung.
"Young master! He's no ordinary master. Must be one of the Three Hidden Ones or Four Wonders. Perhaps..."
"Perhaps what?"
"One of the Three Hidden Ones—and if so, one of the Ming Cult's two leaders."